At SEEDA, our expertise as an EPCM firm in Calgary is all about turning policy into practice. The Building Canada Act, part of the federal Bill C-5, is a significant piece of legislation designed to fast-track major infrastructure projects. While the policy itself is abstract, its impact on the ground is very real. To make this tangible, let’s walk through a hypothetical case study of how this new legislation could transform a major infrastructure Canada project: the development of a new interprovincial clean energy transmission line.
The Challenge: A Major Interprovincial Power Line
Imagine a proposed project, the “Prairie Link,” a new high-voltage transmission line designed to connect Alberta’s wind energy hub with Saskatchewan’s power grid. This project is a crucial step toward meeting Canada’s clean energy goals and could stabilize the grid for both provinces. 🔌
Under the old system, a project of this magnitude would face a long and uncertain journey. It would require separate reviews by the Canada Energy Regulator and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, with each phase potentially spanning years. This regulatory duplication would not only drive up costs but also create significant uncertainty for investors and project owners. The result? Projects like the Prairie Link often get stuck in a bureaucratic holding pattern, unable to proceed.
The Game-Changer: The “Project of National Interest” Designation
With the Building Canada Act, the Prairie Link project could be designated as a Project of National Interest (PONI). This designation is a powerful catalyst. To get it, the project proponent would need to demonstrate how it meets the key criteria outlined in the bill:
- Strengthening Canada’s autonomy: By enhancing interprovincial energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the Prairie Link directly supports national resilience.
- Economic benefits: The project would create thousands of jobs in Canada during construction and operations, attract private investment in the renewable energy sector, and provide reliable power to communities across two provinces.
- High likelihood of successful execution: Our EPCM team at SEEDA would provide a detailed project plan from the outset, including engineering designs, procurement strategies, and a realistic construction schedule to demonstrate the project’s viability.
- Advancing Indigenous interests: From the earliest stages, our team would work with First Nations and Métis communities along the proposed route. We would establish partnerships that go beyond consultation, offering opportunities for co-ownership, employment, and local business contracts, a key requirement of the legislation.
- Clean growth: This project is the very definition of clean growth, directly supporting Canada’s climate objectives by enabling the expansion of renewable energy.
The Outcome: From Years to Months
Once the Prairie Link is designated as a PONI, the federal review process is consolidated and fast-tracked. The duplicative review phases are eliminated. Instead, the Minister issues a single, unified “Conditions Document” that outlines all federal requirements, from environmental mitigation measures to Indigenous consultation protocols.
With our EPCM expertise, we would manage the project to these conditions. We would oversee engineering and design to ensure compliance, manage the procurement of materials to meet quality standards, and supervise construction to adhere to all safety and environmental regulations.
This streamlined approach means the Prairie Link could complete its federal approvals in two years, not five or more. This accelerated timeline gives investors and proponents the certainty they need to move forward, attracting the capital required to get shovels in the ground.
Bill C-5 is transforming the way major projects are built in Canada. It’s moving us toward a future where critical infrastructure is developed with speed, certainty, and a commitment to national interest. To learn how SEEDA’s EPCM services can help your project become a success story under this new legislation, visit us at epcmst.com.