Hodgson: Major projects office to launch this week

OTTAWA — The federal government’s new major projects office will launch this week, a key element in Ottawa’s push to spur construction of new large-scale infrastructure, Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said.

The Liberal government rushed its major projects bill through Parliament in June so it could speed up approval times for large industrial projects that will help grow the economy.

But the government says it needs this new office in place before it can start stamping corporate blueprints with Ottawa’s seal of approval.

“This is the most important reform to how Canada builds major projects in decades,” Hodgson said in a speech at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin, where he touted the government’s new law to Canadian and German business people.

“It creates decision timelines and accountability through a new major projects office, launching later this week.”

Hodgson would however not offer up further details about the new projects office when asked about it on a call with reporters, saying he did not want to steal the spotlight from the prime minister.

At a news conference in Charlottetown, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney for not getting shovels in the ground on new projects since assuming office earlier this year.

“What I think you’re going to see from Mr. Carney is more big promises without any action. It’s more Liberal show business rather than getting it done,” Poilievre said.

The unusually swift passage of the government’s projects bill has also stirred up opposition by rankling some Indigenous groups.

Resolutions are expected to come up at the Assembly of First Nations General Assembly next week calling for amendments to beef up language and protections surrounding consulting with First Nations.

Carney said in Berlin on Tuesday that the government will start formally announcing new investments in port infrastructure in the next two weeks.

In his speech, Hodgson said Canada is placing an emphasis on speed in getting new infrastructure built so Canada can ramp up energy exports.

The minister made an aggressive sales pitch to German businesses to buy Canadian energy exports, such as liquefied natural gas and hydrogen.

“Unlike the previous Canadian government, which closed the door to LNG exports, Prime Minister Carney’s government has opened it. If the demand is here, and the infrastructure is built, Canada will deliver,” Hodgson said.

“Potential projects are in the earliest of stages, and no route is mapped out for sure. But any proponent who comes forward with a project that features good economics and buy-in from their province and Indigenous people, we will take a good look at.”

While Hodgson appeared to be taking a shot at the previous Liberal government under Justin Trudeau in his speech for its position on LNG exports, on the call with reporters afterward, Hodgson said he would not “speak ill of the past government.”

When pressed by reporters about the long list of hurdles to shipping Canadian LNG across the Atlantic — from high capital costs to questions surrounding logistics and future demand — Hodgson replied that many buyers are prepared to buy Canadian LNG right now regardless.

Hodgson said he learned from speaking with businesses on his overseas trip that many want to purchase West Coast LNG and trade it internationally amid intense energy demand.

“Many of the buyers have trading operations in North America, in Asia and in Europe, and they will swap cargoes,” he said. “They can buy cargoes on the West Coast and swap those cargoes for cargoes in Europe, and so German companies today are looking at buying West Coast LNG and swapping it for deliveries into Europe.”

Hodgson and Carney also announced in Berlin on Tuesday that Canada had signed an agreement with Germany to co-operate on advancing critical minerals projects.

Poilievre on Wednesday said the agreement is not a sign of tangible progress.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement. Mr. Carney has been frantically jetting around the world doing photo ops and signing phoney declarations that are unenforceable and have no money attached to them,” Poilievre said.

After Poilievre criticized the agreement on social media, saying it means “nothing” since it is not legally binding, Germany’s Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg replied, insisting the new agreement is important.

“Far from nothing, but exactly what it says: a joint declaration of intent to co-operate in this crucial area of mutual interest,” Lüttenberg wrote. “Needs implementation. But this is an important step forward and we will work hard to build on that with all stakeholders in Canada.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2025.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press