Hearsay

CJSW 90.9 FM

From Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC), the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, and CJSW 90.9 FM, this is Hearsay. This podcast is for educational purposes only, this is not to be taken as legal advice. Should you need legal advice, please seek out a lawyer.

  1. JAN 28

    Hearsay - Episode January 28, 2026

    Building Canada Act and the Major Projects Office The Building Canada Act is a new federal law (enacted June 2025) that allows certain major infrastructure projects to be designated as being in the “national interest” and fast-tracked through approvals. Instead of navigating multiple permits and reviews sequentially, a designated project gets a single, consolidated authorization with conditions - effectively a one-stop federal approval process. This streamlining is meant to cut red tape and build nation‑building projects “at speeds not seen in generations,” from ports and railways to pipelines, mines, and clean energy facilities. Going forward, Canadians will be watching how the first projects chosen under this Act unfold. In late 2025, the government began referring initial projects (from critical mineral mines to port expansions) to the Major Projects Office for consideration. Will this new fast-track system deliver infrastructure “faster, responsibly, and sustainably” as promised? Or will it face push back and unintended consequences? West Coast Env. Law – https://www.wcel.org/sites/default/files/publications/2025-10-14%20WCEL%20Bill%20C-5%20Legal%20Brief%20-%20Final.pdf#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20the%20exemption,In Reuters – https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nine-canadian-first-nations-launch-constitutional-challenge-major-projects-2025-07-15/#:~:text=Environmentalists%20oppose%20both%20laws%2C%20saying,the%20government%27s%20duty%20to%20consult Stewart McKelvey – https://stewartmckelvey.com/uncategorized/building-canada-act-an-act-respecting-national-interest-projects/#:~:text=,growth%20and%20Canada%E2%80%99s%20climate%20objectives Osler Legal Outlook 2025 – https://www.osler.com/en/insights/reports/2025-legal-outlook/building-canada-advancing-national-priorities-and-projects/#:~:text=Such%20authorizations%20can%20include%20decisions,at%20Risk%20Act%2C%20among%20others Library of Parliament – Legislative Summary of Bill C-5 – https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/LegislativeSummaries/451C5E#:~:text=The%20Building%C2%A0Canada%C2%A0Act%20,11 Justice Laws Website – Building Canada Act (Statutes of Canada 2025, c.2) – https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/b-9.89/FullText.html#:~:text=,is%20to%20be%20carried%20out Privy Council Office – Major Projects Office (Canada.ca) – https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/major-projects-office.html Prime Minister of Canada – News Release (Sept 11, 2025) – https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/09/11/prime-minister-carney-announces-first-projects-be-reviewed-new#:~:text=,lower%20than%20the%20world%E2%80%99s Prime Minister of Canada – News Release (Nov 13, 2025) – https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/11/13/prime-minister-carney-announces-second-tranche-nation-building-projects#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20Prime%20Minister%20referred,area%20the%20size%20of%20Greece Debates (Hansard) – https://www.ourcommons.ca/documentviewer/en/45-1/house/sitting-16/hansard#:~:text=need%20to%20consult%20with%20affected,apply%20to%20such%20a%20project Norton Rose Fulbright – https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/23c3f5fd/loi-visant-a-batir-le-canada-lobligation-de-consulter-et-la-reconciliation-economique#:~:text=In%20an%20attempt%20to%20address,the%20coming%20year%20to%20strengthen Business Council of Alberta – https://businesscouncilab.com/advocacy-category/bill-c-5-is-a-good-start-but-not-a-complete-strategy/#:~:text=last%20decade%2C%20we%20ranked%C2%A037%20out,pulling%20farther%20and%20farther%20ahead Business Council of Canada – https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/LegislativeSummaries/451C5E#:~:text=barriers%20could%20add%20approximately%200,40 Budget 2025 – https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/11/13/prime-minister-carney-announces-second-tranche-nation-building-projects#:~:text=The%20world%20is%20changing%20rapidly,securing%20sovereign%20domestic%20supply%20chains

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From Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC), the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, and CJSW 90.9 FM, this is Hearsay. This podcast is for educational purposes only, this is not to be taken as legal advice. Should you need legal advice, please seek out a lawyer.