Carney Unveils Second Wave of Nation-Building Megaprojects: “It’s Time to Build Canada Strong.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a sweeping second round of nation-building megaprojects, accelerating what his government calls the largest economic transformation in a generation — a shift from reliance on a single trade partner toward a more resilient, self-sufficient, globally connected Canada.

“Our message is clear,” Carney said during the announcement in Terrace.“ Faced with uncertainty, Canada is making bold choices… It’s time to build.”

These projects — referred to the recently created Major Projects Office (MPO) — make up more than $56 billion in new investment and are expected to support 68,000 skilled careers across the country. They follow the first $60-billion tranche unveiled in September, covering nuclear power, LNG capacity, critical minerals, and national trade corridors.

Together, these initiatives form the backbone of Budget 2025: Canada Strong — an effort Carney describes as “taking control of our future and building Canadian, with Canadian workers, materials, and expertise.”

A Corridor That Could Redefine Canada’s North

At the center of today’s announcement is the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor, a vast region in Northwest British Columbia and the Yukon that sits atop world-class critical minerals reserves.

Carney said the Corridor “has the potential to transform the lives of thousands of Canadians,” noting that it could both unlock major mineral deposits and establish a conservation area “the size of Greece.”

The project requires a coordinated national push — new transmission lines, upgraded highways, fibre and cell infrastructure, ports, rail expansion, and community investments. Carney emphasized that the government intends to build this “in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, with Indigenous project leadership at the core.”

The Corridor’s development is also tied to clean electricity transmission and Canada’s ability to scale LNG exports — a recurring theme in the government’s broader economic strategy.

Clean Power, LNG, and a New Northern Grid

Two additional Northern projects were also referred to the MPO:

North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL)

A major clean-energy corridor that will connect remote communities, deliver low-cost electricity, and support industrial growth from B.C.’s Golden Triangle to the coast. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has committed $139.5 million in early-stage financing.

When complete, the NCTL could reduce emissions by up to three million tonnes annually and — for the first time — link the Yukon’s isolated grid to the rest of Canada.

Ksi Lisims LNG — a Nation-Led Megaproject

Led by the Nisga’a Nation, Ksi Lisims LNG is poised to become Canada’s second-largest LNG facility and one of the lowest-emission operations in the world, with projected emissions 94 percent below the global average once electrified.

The project is expected to attract nearly $30 billion in investment, create thousands of jobs, and significantly expand Canada’s LNG export capacity.

“By ensuring that projects like LNG Canada 2 and Ksi Lisims LNG get built,” Carney said, “we can more than double Canada’s LNG production.”

Canada Pushes to Lead the Global Critical Minerals Race

Global demand for critical minerals — nickel, graphite, tungsten, copper — continues to surge as countries race to secure supply chains for EVs, batteries, clean power grids, and defense applications.

Earlier this month, Canada and its G7 partners announced $6.4 billion in new investments and partnerships, and today, three more projects were referred to the MPO:

• Canada Nickel’s Crawford Project (Timmins, ON) — one of the world’s largest nickel deposits; expected to generate $5 billion in investment and operate with emissions 90% below the global average.

• Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine (QC) — a major graphite source tied to Canada’s growing battery materials hub in Bécancour.

• Northcliff’s Sisson Mine (NB) — a tungsten project that could position Canada as one of the world’s most reliable suppliers for allied defense and industrial sectors.

“These resources are essential to the clean economy and to our security,” said the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.“ Canada is moving from reliance to resilience.”

A Breakthrough for Arctic Sovereignty

In Nunavut, the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project — the territory’s first 100% Inuit-owned hydro facility — is now headed to the MPO as well.

Once completed, it will replace 15 million liters of imported diesel each year, cut emissions, lower energy costs, and enhance Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.

Carney called it “a milestone in Indigenous leadership and clean-energy innovation.”

A Trillion-Dollar Economic Pivot

The government has now referred $116 billion in projects across the first two tranches. Through Budget 2025, Ottawa expects to mobilize over $1 trillion in public and private investment over the next five years.

These initiatives are projected to create tens of thousands of careers not only in mining, construction, and energy — but also in the communities that grow around them.

“We are building sustainably,” Carney said,“ and we’re doing it with Canadians, for Canadians.”