The federal government is preparing to add the Crawford Nickel Project in northern Ontario, along with a major hydroelectric development in Nunavut, to Canada’s list of priority national projects. Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to unveil the next round of fast-track candidates Thursday during an event in Terrace, British Columbia, as part of his broader push to accelerate major infrastructure and resource initiatives across the country.
A senior Ontario government source confirmed that the Crawford Nickel Project, located near Timmins, will be among the newly announced additions. Another federal source familiar with the plans said a hydroelectric project in Iqaluit will also be included. Both projects are slated for submission to the federal Major Projects Office, which was created to speed up permitting and approvals for developments considered essential to Canada’s long-term economic and trade strategy.
CBC News previously reported that several other projects are expected to appear on the updated list, including the Sisson Mine in New Brunswick, the Nouveau Monde Graphite Phase 2 development in Quebec, and the Ksi Lisims liquefied natural gas project in northwestern British Columbia, not far from where Carney will make Thursday’s announcement.
The government introduced its first five priority projects two months ago, featuring a Montreal port expansion, a small modular nuclear reactor in Ontario, an LNG expansion in British Columbia, and two mining developments in Saskatchewan and B.C. Carney has emphasized that accelerating critical minerals, energy, and transportation projects is central to preparing Canada for shifting global trade relationships.