OTTAWA — The Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has unveiled the first five major projects under consideration for expedited approval. This announcement comes two months after the passage of new legislation aimed at facilitating major projects. Among the proposals are an expansion of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and two critical mineral mining initiatives.

The government plans to send these projects to the newly established Major Projects Office, which is responsible for finalizing permits, coordinating with provincial and territorial governments, and assisting with financing. All five projects have made some progress in their regulatory processes but have faced challenges in reaching completion. Notably, none of the initial projects involve pipelines or oil extraction.

In addition to the five projects currently under consideration, the government intends to announce five more in the near future. These additional projects include the Wind West Atlantic Energy wind power initiative, the Pathways Plus carbon capture and storage project in Alberta, an upgrade to the Port of Churchill in Manitoba, and the Alto high-speed rail line connecting Toronto and Quebec City. There are also plans for unidentified projects related to critical mineral development and the establishment of an economic and security trade corridor in the Arctic.

During a Liberal caucus meeting in Edmonton, Carney emphasized the importance of these projects in diversifying Canada’s economy. He stated, "Projects that will increase our independence, boost our economy, align with the interests of Indigenous peoples, and advance our climate goals."

The five projects currently being fast-tracked include:

1. **LNG Canada Export Terminal Expansion (Kitimat, B.C.)**: This project aims to double the production capacity of LNG Canada. 2. **Darlington New Nuclear Project (Clarington, Ont.)**: This initiative will create Canada’s first small modular reactor, which is seen as a potential future model for nuclear energy production. 3. **Contrecoeur Terminal Container Project (Contrecoeur, Que.)**: This long-awaited expansion of the Montreal Port is expected to increase the port's capacity by 60 percent. 4. **Mcilvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project (Saskatchewan)**: Located in East-Central Saskatchewan, this mine will focus on extracting copper and zinc, and is touted as Canada’s first net-zero copper mining project. 5. **Red Chris Mine Expansion (B.C.)**: This expansion is projected to extend the lifespan of the copper mine in Northwest B.C. by over ten years and increase Canadian copper production by more than 15 percent.