ActCanadaSwitched on and used

One Canadian Economy Act (incl. Building Canada Act) (C-5)

Federal law in two parts. The Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act removes federal barriers to trade and labour mobility between provinces. The Building Canada Act lets cabinet list 'national interest' projects: once listed, a project is treated as approved in principle, the findings needed for the federal permits named in the Act are deemed made in its favour, and the review turns to the conditions it must meet, set in one federal document. Cabinet can list new projects only during the Act's first five years. The government set 'the ultimate objective' of cutting decision times on major projects from five years to two. The bill was introduced on June 6, 2025, passed the House of Commons on June 20 and received Royal Assent on June 26, 2025.

Stages

Passing a law is not the same as switching it on, and switching it on is not the same as using it. Each stage is dated where known.

1. Introduced 6 June 2025
   Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is introduced, aiming to cut decisions on major projects from five years to two
2. Royal Assent 26 June 2025
   Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, including the Building Canada Act for national-interest projects, receives Royal Assent
3. In force 1 January 2026
   Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act (Part 1 of Bill C-5) and its regulations come into force
4. First used 24 June 2026
   Ottawa starts the Building Canada Act listing process for Grays Bay Road and Port, the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Deep Geological Repository
5. First used 1 October 2026
   Carney lists the West Coast oil pipeline, renamed Pacific Link, as the first project of national interest under Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act

Events

• 8 October 2026Cold Lake First Nations files for judicial review in Federal Court of the Pacific Link national-interest designationActionCourt rulingCanada6 sources
• 1 October 2026Carney lists the West Coast oil pipeline, renamed Pacific Link, as the first project of national interest under Schedule 1 of the Building Canada ActActionRegulationCanada6 sources
• 1 October 2026Union of BC Indian Chiefs rejects the Pacific Link listing and says it will be fought in court and, if necessary, on the groundStatementStatementBritish Columbia3 sources
• 1 October 2026Coldwater Indian Band says it is considering legal or other action against Pacific Link⚠ Caution: second-hand accountStatementStatementBritish Columbia2 sources
• 21 September 2026Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, introduced by Steven MacKinnonDocumentLegislationCanada14 sources
• 29 August 2026Canada Gazette notice on listing the Mackenzie Valley Highway under the Building Canada Act (comments to 2026-10-01)DocumentRegulationCanada2 sources
• 1 August 2026Canada Gazette notice says Ottawa may list the West Coast Oil Pipeline as a national interest project under the Building Canada ActDocumentRegulationCanada5 sources
• 23 July 2026Friends of the Attawapiskat River file Federal Court judicial review of the federal Webequie Supply Road approvalActionCourt rulingOntario2 sources
• 24 June 2026Ottawa starts the Building Canada Act listing process for Grays Bay Road and Port, the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Deep Geological RepositoryDocumentRegulationCanada4 sources
• 16 April 2026Poilievre at the Canadian Club: 'not one single new major project, not one oil pipeline, not one port, nothing' since C-5StatementStatementCanada1 source
• 1 January 2026Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act (Part 1 of Bill C-5) and its regulations come into forceActionLegislationCanada2 sources
• 27 November 2025Canada–Alberta MOU sets a path to a bitumen pipeline of at least 1 million barrels a day to Asian markets, adjusting the tanker ban if necessaryDocumentAgreementCanada2 sources
• 13 November 2025Second tranche of projects referred to the Major Projects Office (over C$56B), including Ksi Lisims LNG and the North Coast Transmission LineDocumentRegulationCanada2 sources
• 11 September 2025First five projects referred to the Major Projects Office (over C$60B), including LNG Canada Phase 2DocumentRegulationCanada3 sources
• 13 August 2025Conservative MP Greg McLean calls Bill C-5 a temporary work-around of existing laws and says Conservative amendments improved itStatementStatementCanada1 source
• 15 July 2025First Nations file a constitutional challenge to Ontario's Bill 5 (special economic zones) and federal Bill C-5 in the Ontario Superior Court, seeking C$100M and injunctionsActionCourt rulingOntario4 sources
• 26 June 2025Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, including the Building Canada Act for national-interest projects, receives Royal AssentActionLegislationCanada3 sources
• 26 June 2025Senate passes Bill C-5 without amendment after defeating a free, prior and informed consent amendment by 48 votes to 28ActionLegislationCanada3 sources
• 20 June 2025House unanimously adopts a Bloc Québécois amendment shielding the Canada Labour Code from Bill C-5's exemption powers, 337–0ActionLegislationCanada2 sources
• 20 June 2025House of Commons passes Part 2 of Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, at third reading by 306 votes to 31, with Conservatives voting in favourActionLegislationCanada3 sources
• 20 June 2025C-5 Part 1 (internal-trade act) passes third reading 335–1; Elizabeth May the only noActionLegislationCanada2 sources
• 20 June 2025Dan Muys: 'Bill C-5 takes a small step forward... we will not stop fighting for real change'StatementStatementCanada1 source
• about 19 June 2025Conservatives say their C-5 amendment stops ministers bypassing the Lobbying Act and Conflict of Interest ActStatementStatementCanada1 source
• 16 June 2025House adopts the government motion setting an expedited timetable for Bill C-5, 305–30, with Conservative supportActionLegislationCanada2 sources
• 16 June 2025Bill C-5 passes second reading in the House of Commons, 304–29, with no Conservative votes againstActionLegislationCanada1 source
• 6 June 2025Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is introduced, aiming to cut decisions on major projects from five years to twoActionLegislationCanada2 sources