Canada has no shortage of projects worth building. What it needs to have is a regulatory system fast enough to build them. In its latest From Barriers to Breakthroughs report, the Business Council of Alberta (BCA) outlines recommendations to modernize major project approvals, unlock investment, and give companies the certainty they need. The data tells a stark story; Canada is falling behind. The scale of the problem is significant. Between 2006 and 2021, federal regulatory requirements increased by 37% despite repeated reform efforts. To reverse this trend, BCA recommends improving major project reviews and permitting through changes to the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act), and strengthening regulatory design and oversight. Key reforms include: Improve the process for screening reviews in and out of the IAA: Ensure projects are reviewed by the correct regulator under the right legislation and enable “one project, one review, one decision” by integrating federal expertise into provincial processes. Remove late stage political decisions: Adopt a two stage decision model with an early political decision on whether a project proceeds and a final independent authorization on how it proceeds. Shorten and stabilize timelines: Limit reviews to two years or less,

Last week the Government of Alberta established the Premier’s Investment Council (PIC) to improve coordination across ministries and provincial agencies responsible for investment attraction, economic development and resource sector growth. Chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, the PIC brings together 20 members, including key cabinet ministers and the leadership of provincial bodies involved in investment attraction, economic development and resource sector growth. The council will align efforts across government, share market intelligence and focus on high-impact opportunities that strengthen Alberta’s competitive position. The PIC also builds on the government’s March 23 commitment to introduce legislation that would establish a 120-day approval timeline for major projects once consultation and environmental assessments are complete. This legislation represents a serious commitment to improving the province’s competitiveness as a destination for large-scale investment. Alberta has set ambitious goals for doubling oil and gas production by 2035 and increasing market access. An accelerated approval process is that improves coordination between government and regulatory bodies and gives industry the certainty needed to make these major investments. For CLRA members, the government’s recent announcements are encouraging. A more predictable approval environment and a more coordinated government will help create the conditions needed to deliver large and complex projects.

“With labour demand rising across Alberta’s construction sector, attracting the next generation of skilled workers remains a priority for CLRA. That’s why the launch of the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre represents an important step forward for the sector and for the province,” said CLRA President, Joe McFadyen. The Alberta government has announced the creation of the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre, an initiative designed to give students hands-on exposure to careers in the skilled trades. The centre will introduce junior high and high school students to construction trades in a professional environment and help them make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways. The province is investing $6 million over three years to support the centre’s initial implementation and operations, aligning with our Seed vs. Sod approach. For CLRA, “Seed” comes first: building a strong local pipeline through education, training and mentorship. Our strategy focuses on attracting more Alberta youth to trades, strengthening training pathways and deepening partnerships with post‑secondary institutions to meet industry needs. This reinforces our commitment to growing Alberta’s own talent. Students will gain practical experience in “try-a-trade” bays, learn directly from experienced tradespeople and explore the wide range of opportunities available across Alberta’s construction sector.