Prime Minister Carney Launches Major Projects Office to Accelerate Nation-Building Projects

Image Credit: Alexander Fox 

August 29, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario, The federal government has launched the Major Projects Office (MPO), a new initiative intended to streamline approvals and coordinate financing for major infrastructure and development projects across Canada. Headquartered in Calgary with regional offices in other cities, the MPO will act as a single point of contact for projects deemed in the national interest.

The office was established following the passage of the Building Canada Act in June 2025, which simplifies federal approval processes and sets a goal of completing environmental and regulatory reviews for major projects within two years. The MPO will coordinate with provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities to apply a “one project, one review” approach, reducing duplication and delays.

Financing is also a key function of the MPO. The office will coordinate investment from private companies, provincial and territorial governments, and federal programs such as the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Canada Growth Fund. The Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program has been expanded from $5 billion to $10 billion, and the MPO will allocate $40 million over two years to increase Indigenous participation in project planning and development.

Dawn Farrell has been appointed CEO of the MPO. She brings decades of experience in Canada’s energy sector, including previous leadership roles at TransAlta Corporation, Trans Mountain Corporation, and BC Hydro.

The MPO will be advised by an Indigenous Advisory Council, which will include representatives from First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Modern Treaty and Self-Governing communities. The council will help guide projects to ensure consultation and partnership with Indigenous Peoples.

Infrastructure development in Canada has often been delayed by complex and overlapping regulatory requirements. Statistics Canada reports that regulatory obligations grew by 2.1% per year from 2006 to 2021, reducing business investment growth by 9%. By centralizing project oversight and coordinating approvals and financing, the MPO aims to remove these barriers and accelerate project timelines.

The government plans to announce the first set of projects supported by the MPO in the coming weeks.