Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Unified Canadian Economy, introduced new legislation to build a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient Canadian economy.
The plan, titled “One Canadian Economy: An Act to Enact the Canada Free Trade and Labour Mobility Act and the Building Canada Act,” will eliminate federal barriers to domestic trade and labour mobility and promote critical national construction projects to boost productivity growth, energy security, and Canada’s economic competitiveness.
The proposed legislation will accelerate the delivery of major nation-building projects that will help Canada become the strongest G7 economy, deepen our trade relationships with trusted partners, and create good jobs in Canada. The federal government will determine whether a major project is in the national interest based on consultations with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples.
Projects will only be designated after full consultation with the affected indigenous peoples.
When a project is designated, it is conditionally approved in advance. The project will undergo existing review processes, focusing on "how" the project will be built rather than "whether" it can be built. The federal Office of Major Projects will coordinate and expedite these reviews.
The results, along with consultations with Indigenous peoples, will serve as the basis for establishing a single set of binding federal conditions for the project. These conditions would include mitigation and adaptation measures to protect the environment and respect the rights of Indigenous peoples.
This legislation is in line with the Government of Canada's commitment to a "one project, one review" approach, which means conducting a single project assessment and improving the coordination of permitting processes with the provinces and territories. The ultimate goal is to reduce decision-making times for major projects from five years to two years.
Furthermore, this new legislation builds a thirteen-centre economy. It removes federal barriers to free trade within our borders, while protecting workers, the environment, and the health and safety of all Canadians.
In cases where a federal barrier exists, legislation will allow a good or service that meets comparable provincial or territorial standards to be considered federally compliant for domestic trade. For Canadian businesses, this will make it easier to buy, sell, and transport goods and services across the country.
Regarding labor mobility, the new legislation will provide a framework for recognizing workers' provincial and territorial licenses and certifications. This means that a worker licensed in a provincial or territorial jurisdiction will be able to work more quickly and easily in the same occupation in the federal jurisdiction.
