The federal government announced this week the five major projects it intends to fast-track. Now, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson is pushing back against Conservative critiques that the list is nothing special because some projects were already well in development.

"You've got to execute and punch the ball into the end zone," Hodgson said in an interview on that aired Sunday morning.

To continue his football analogy, Hodgson told host Rosemary Barton he would "describe these five projects as being down in the red zone" — the area of a football field close to the goal line.

"The Major Projects Office is there to help make sure each of these proponents punches the ball into the end zone, scores a touchdown and builds for Canada."

On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the initial

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