Alberta Premier Smith backs Ottawa’s fast-track infrastructure approvals plan, urging changes to Bill C-69 to drive investment and match U.S. progress.
Alberta Welcomes Faster Federal Approvals
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she supports the Liberal government’s plan to cut approval times for major infrastructure projects from five years to two. Speaking on Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday, Smith praised Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “one-project, one-review” plan, saying it reflects an understanding that Canada’s regulatory process has become too slow to compete globally.
Carney’s Plan Gains Traction in the West
Smith’s comments come as the federal government pushes ahead with the One Canadian Economy Act, unveiled in early June. The legislation is a cornerstone of the Liberals’ platform, aimed at unifying Canada’s fragmented economic framework and enabling the rapid construction of nation-building infrastructure. Under the act, federal and provincial approval processes would be merged into a single, streamlined review.
Alberta Wants More Changes to Existing Law
Despite supporting the new bill, Smith said more reforms are needed—especially to the Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69). The Supreme Court ruled parts of the 2019 law unconstitutional in 2023, but Ottawa’s amendments have not satisfied Alberta. Smith argued that remaining provisions still contain “ideological” criteria that lack clear measurement standards and discourage investment in resource development.
Balancing Speed with Oversight
The proposed bill is not without controversy. Critics argue that it may undermine Indigenous consultation and environmental safeguards by allowing cabinet to bypass multiple laws for projects deemed to serve the national interest. The 18-page bill includes a clause granting cabinet the authority to override both environmental regulations and existing acts of Parliament in exceptional cases.
Federal Ministers Defend the Bill’s Scope
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc defended the legislation, stating it aligns with the Liberal mandate to build a unified Canadian economy. “We got a mandate from Canadians,” LeBlanc told CBC. “It’s on page one of the platform—to stop operating like we have 13 separate economies and start building big national projects again.”
Canada’s Regulatory Race with the U.S.
Smith warned that Canada risks losing its competitive edge if it doesn’t match the speed of U.S. regulatory reforms. “We’ve got to keep up with the Americans,” she said, referencing recent moves by Washington to fast-track domestic energy and infrastructure projects. “If we don’t, we’re going to miss this window of investment.”
High-Level Talks Ahead of G7 Summit
As Alberta prepares to host the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Smith said she’s requested bilateral meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Carney is also set to meet Trump on Monday in Alberta, in a bid to accelerate negotiations to end the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war.
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