New federal legislation would cut internal trade barriers and advance ‘nation

New federal legislation would cut internal trade barriers and advance ‘nation-building’ projects

The federal government unveiled legislation Friday to remove internal trade barriers between provinces and create an office that would streamline approvals for “nation-building” projects Ottawa says could range from highways to oil pipelines to nuclear power plants.

The One Canadian Economy bill would provide increased investor certainty for major projects “by providing decisions upfront, with the intent to shorten decision timelines from five years to two years, while continuing to ensure environmental protections and commitments to Indigenous rights,” the government said in a statement.

Federal officials, briefing journalists on the legislation, said the two-year project approval target is