Canada tables Bill C-39, cutting federal review of major projects to 1 year and clarifying powers to intervene in strikes

According to a Government of Canada announcement dated 21 September 2026, 27 nationally significant initiatives have been referred to the Major Projects Office since September 2025; their current investment value is 200 billion dollars, and the private investment they are expected to trigger is 500 billion dollars. The government said it foresees about 280 billion dollars of capital investment and incentives over a 5-year period, which, together with public, private and institutional sources, would enable total investment of more than 1 trillion dollars. Under the bill, 100 new occupational health and safety inspectors, an increase in capacity of about 70%, and 26 new staff at the Canada Industrial Relations Board will be added; more than 26,000 submissions were received and 78 consultation sessions held during preparation.

According to Radio Canada International, the bill was tabled after a rowdy first question period; opposition MPs focused on the cost of living and the impact of US tariffs. The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) called on the government not to abuse its majority and to allow Indigenous communities to propose amendments to the bill. According to The Rio Times, the government is also running an advertising campaign worth 4 million Canadian dollars to promote the bill.

Canada's 5 billion dollar fund for trade diversification corridors and 1 billion dollar fund for Arctic infrastructure were recalled in the announcement. The number and scope of national interest zones and the thresholds at which strike intervention powers will be used could not be verified in detail as of 23 September.