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Ottawa to Launch Major Projects Office This Week as LNG Push to Europe Gains Steam

Ministers signal initial priorities within two weeks including port expansions at Contrecoeur and Churchill.

Overview

  • Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said the office will be unveiled Thursday or Friday with its leadership and plans, followed by the first project announcements within two weeks.
  • Under Bill C-5, rushed through Parliament in June, the office must be operational before Ottawa can issue fast-tracked approvals that aim to cut timelines to about two years.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted new federal investments in port infrastructure, naming Montreal’s Contrecoeur expansion and a revitalized Churchill hub as areas to watch.
  • Hodgson reported German industry interest in Canadian LNG and projected potential exports to Europe by roughly 2032, noting buyers could swap West Coast cargoes to meet nearer-term demand.
  • Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the lack of firm proposals and construction starts, while the government stressed projects will require provincial coordination and Indigenous partnership.