Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to announce a list of major projects that the federal government will expedite for approval, including a proposed nickel mine in northern Ontario. The announcement is scheduled for Thursday in Terrace, B.C. The Crawford nickel mine, planned by Canada Nickel Company, is located off Highway 655 between Timmins and Cochrane. This project is expected to be included in the new Major Projects Office's fast-track initiative.

Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson will join Carney for the announcement. He recently met with mining officials, politicians, and Indigenous leaders in Sudbury to discuss the significance of the projects. Hodgson explained that projects are selected based on their innovative technologies, lower carbon methods, and potential contributions to national security. He noted, "Or there may be some innovative ownership with Indigenous peoples involved in the ownership."

In March, Canada Nickel announced agreements with three First Nations for the mine's development. Hodgson emphasized the importance of the mining industry, stating, "Because the world has realized it cannot operate its economies, or have the national security it needs, and it cannot achieve the green transition it wants to without these important minerals. And northern Ontario is blessed with them."

The Crawford deposit is considered one of the largest nickel finds globally, with a projected mine life of over 40 years. Canada Nickel anticipates that the mine could create around 1,000 jobs and aims to begin production by 2027, which includes completing two processing plants.

Hodgson reassured other mining companies that the list of fast-tracked projects is not final. He described it as an "evergreen" list, indicating that new projects will be added over time. He also mentioned a $2 billion critical minerals fund to support the development of new mines, not just those on the current list.

The government plans to ensure that permitting processes are expedited while maintaining environmental standards and collaborating with affected First Nations. Hodgson stated, "We also will make sure that we help companies take advantage of all the different opportunities to get attractive financing."

In addition to the Crawford mine, other projects expected to be announced include a hydroelectric project in Iqaluit, the Sisson Mine in New Brunswick, the Nouveau Monde Graphite Phase 2 project in Quebec, and the Ksi Lisims liquefied natural gas project. The Ksi Lisims project is projected to produce 12 million tonnes of LNG annually for Asian markets.

The Major Projects Office was established to streamline the approval process for significant projects. The federal budget recently proposed $213.8 million over five years for the office, which will operate independently from the Privy Council Office. No project has yet received the national interest designation, which would allow for exemptions from certain environmental laws to facilitate progress.