September 21, 2026
The Government of Canada has introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, proposing major changes to federal project reviews, transportation infrastructure and labour rules as the country looks to accelerate investment and construction.
Introduced September 21, 2026, the proposed legislation would establish a goal of completing federal reviews and decisions within one year after a project proponent submits a comprehensive application. The government says the reforms are intended to provide greater speed, certainty and predictability while maintaining environmental protections and respecting Indigenous rights.
For Canada’s construction and engineering sectors, the legislation could have implications for the pipeline and timing of major infrastructure, energy, natural-resource and transportation projects.
Under the proposed Build Canada Now measures, federal reviews and decisions would be completed within one year of receiving a comprehensive application.
The government says the legislation would establish clearer and more predictable processes for project proponents and Indigenous groups participating in consultations.
Alongside Bill C-39, the federal government has issued a Cabinet Directive aimed at completing federal reviews and project decisions within the same one-year timeframe.
The proposed reforms build on the One Canadian Economy Act, which established a framework for advancing projects considered to be in the national interest.
Bill C-39 also contains measures aimed at Canada’s transportation infrastructure and supply chains.
Under the proposed Keep Canada Moving measures, Canada would formally designate strategic trade corridors, address transportation bottlenecks and establish a transportation project office to coordinate federal permitting for priority projects.
The legislation would also make changes related to port governance, trade digitalization and administrative requirements, with the government seeking to attract private investment and improve the movement of Canadian goods to domestic and international markets.
The measures come alongside previously announced federal funding, including a $5 billion Trade Diversification Corridors Fund and $1 billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund.
The legislation arrives as Canada faces a substantial pipeline of proposed infrastructure and resource development.
According to the federal government, 27 nation-building initiatives have been referred to the Major Projects Office since September 2025. These include ports, mines and energy corridors representing approximately $200 billion in investment, with the government identifying a potential pathway to another $500 billion in future private-sector investment.
The government also says approximately $280 billion in federal capital investments and third-party incentives over five years are expected to help enable more than $1 trillion in total public, private and institutional investment. These figures represent government estimates and investment expectations rather than completed construction spending.
Bill C-39 extends beyond project approvals and infrastructure.
Proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code would address collective bargaining and labour protections in federally regulated industries while maintaining the right to strike.
The government also plans to add 100 health and safety officers, which it says would increase federal inspection capacity by approximately 70%. Another 26 staff would be added to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, alongside increased enforcement related to worker misclassification.
While seeking faster decisions, the government says the proposed system would continue to maintain environmental assessment requirements and Canada’s obligations related to Indigenous consultation, Modern Treaties, Self-Government agreements and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
The original announcement states that the proposed reforms were informed by consultations involving workers, employers, unions, Indigenous Peoples, provinces, territories and industry. More than 26,000 responses and 78 engagement sessions were reported during consultations held over the summer.
For construction, engineering and infrastructure companies, one of the most significant elements of Bill C-39 is the proposed one-year federal review and decision timeline.
If enacted and implemented as intended, greater predictability in federal approvals could affect when major projects move from planning and regulatory review toward procurement and construction.
However, Bill C-39 has been introduced as proposed legislation and must proceed through the parliamentary process. Its eventual effects will depend on the final legislation, regulations and implementation of the new review framework.
With hundreds of billions of dollars in proposed infrastructure, transportation, energy and resource projects under consideration, the efficiency of Canada’s approval system will remain an important factor in determining how quickly investment translates into construction activity.
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