Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that the major federal projects office will be operational by early September, as part of a strategy to accelerate project approvals and drive economic growth across Canada.

The announcement came during a meeting with provincial and territorial premiers in Huntsville, Ontario, on Tuesday, where Carney also provided an update on trade negotiations with the US.

“. . . the Prime Minister shared that the major federal projects office and the Indigenous advisory council will be operational by Labour Day – acting as the point of contact for governments, proponents, and communities to submit their proposals,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“The Prime Minister will continue meeting with key stakeholders over the coming weeks to ensure big projects are built in full partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, and to build one Canadian economy.”

The office is a central part in Carney’s efforts to eliminate bottlenecks in Canada’s project approval process. When Parliament opened in May, Carney laid out a vision of a more agile, investment-ready Canada - where the time to approve projects of national significance would be cut from five years to two, without compromising environmental protections or Indigenous rights.

“To build Canada strong, the government is working closely with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to identify and catalyse projects of national significance,” Carney said during his inaugural address. “Projects that will connect Canada, that will deepen Canada’s ties with the world, and that will create high-paying jobs for generations.”

The planned office will operate alongside a newly formed Indigenous advisory council, aiming to embed Indigenous participation into the early stages of major project planning and permitting. The government has also pledged to sign cooperation agreements with all willing provinces and territories within six months to deliver on its “one project, one review” promise.

Regarding trade negotiations with the US, Carney emphasised on Tuesday that the federal government remained focused on getting the best deal for Canadians. "First Ministers are united on this," the Prime Minister's office said.

Carney also underscored recent federal measures to restrict and reduce steel imports into Canada, protect Canadian steel workers, catalyse domestic steel production, and prioritise the procurement of Canadian steel in government projects.