Canada Passes Fast-Track Infrastructure Bill with Cross-Party Backing Amid U.S. Trade Tensions

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma)– In a significant bipartisan move, the House of Commons passed Canada’s Major Projects Legislation (Bill C‑5) late Friday evening with support from both the ruling Liberals and the opposition Conservatives. The bill is intended to fast-track critical infrastructure and resource projects while also eliminating key interprovincial trade barriers, amid increasing U.S. protectionism and tariffs.

Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the development, calling the bill “essential for national economic resilience.” It grants the federal cabinet expanded powers to override existing legislative obstacles to approve large-scale energy, mining, and transport initiatives deemed vital to the national interest. The urgency of the bill saw it pushed through with limited parliamentary scrutiny just two committee sessions were held before the final vote.

Crucially, the bill mandates Indigenous consultation, requiring Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for all projects. It also introduces equity-sharing models for Indigenous communities. However, critics from the Bloc Québécois and NDP have raised alarms, warning that the federal override powers could infringe upon Indigenous rights enshrined in Section 35 of the Constitution.

In response to growing concerns, Prime Minister Carney announced the formation of a new Indigenous advisory council under the Major Projects Office to guide the implementation and ensure rights-based oversight.

While the bill received broad support from Conservatives and Liberals over its trade and investment acceleration objectives, opposition parties and Indigenous leaders remain cautious over how the powers will be exercised.

With Bill C‑5 now heading to the Senate, the government is pushing for royal assent before July 1 to align infrastructure approvals with Canada’s mid-year growth targets.