Accelerating nation-building projects
Building our economic strength at home is how we create greater certainty, security and prosperity for Canadians.
In September, we advanced the first five nation-building projects by referring them to the Major Projects Office to accelerate approvals. Designated projects are conditionally approved upfront and will undergo a single, expedited review process with all existing safeguards and relevant agencies. This is expected to cut approval timelines from five years to two.
The first five projects are:
- Darlington New Nuclear Project, Southwestern Ontario
- Le terminal de Contrecoeur, Southern Quebec
- McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine, East-Central Saskatchewan
- Red Chris Copper and Gold Mine, Northwestern British Columbia
- LNG Canada Phase II, Northwestern British Columbia
These projects alone represent over $60 billion in investment and will create thousands of high-paying careers for Canadian workers.
Federal Budget to be Tabled on November 4
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to speak with many of you about the economy and how we can make life better for residents.
Budget 2025 will be focused on building a stronger, more resilient Canada through bold investments and careful discipline. There will be tough choices, but we will put people first: investing in housing and infrastructure, unlocking major private investment, and investing in communities. At the same time, the government is tightening its belt on day-to-day operations, so services are more efficient and reliable, and resources are focused where they matter most.
I look forward to sharing more about Budget 2025 soon.
Combatting Hate in our Communities
No one in Canada should ever feel unsafe because of who they are, how they worship or where they gather.
On September 19, our government introduced the Combatting Hate Act to safeguard the security and dignity of Canadians while upholding the right to peaceful protest and free expression guaranteed under the Charter.
- Protect safe access to community spaces by making it illegal to physically obstruct or intimidate people trying to enter spaces primarily used by an identifiable group – such as mosques, synagogues, schools, cultural centres, and sporting facilities.
- Criminalize the deliberate promotion of hatred by displaying certain hate or terror symbols in public, including the swastika, SS bolts, and the insignias of Criminal Code-listed terrorist organizations such as Hamas or Al Qaida.
- A new hate crime offence to more clearly denounce hate-motivated crime, including by increasing the potential maximum penalty.
This is not “bubble zone” legislation, and it will not affect Canadians’ Charter rights to protest, strike or express political opposition. Instead, it targets criminal intimidation and obstruction.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
There can be no reconciliation without truth. On September 30, I joined Canadians in remembering and honouring the children taken from their families, those who never returned home, and those who continue to live with the lasting trauma of residential schools.
For far too long, these truths were denied or ignored. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a time to listen to survivors, their families, and Indigenous communities – and to recommit ourselves to working in partnership and trust with First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
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