ManitobaManitoba is the latest province to sign a preliminary agreement with the federal government to reduce the number of procedural hoops required to approve major infrastructure projects such as the proposed expansion of the Port of Churchill.Agreement would allow single set of environmental assessments, Indigenous consultationsCBC News · Posted: Nov 26, 2025 3:19 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.The expansion of the Port of Churchill is under consideration as a major project of national importance. (CBC)Manitoba is the latest province to sign a preliminary agreement with the federal government to reduce the number of procedural hoops required to approve major infrastructure projects, such as the proposed expansion of the Port of Churchill.The province has signed a draft version of a deal to co-operate on environmental assessments and Indigenous consultations before a major project is approved, the federal government disclosed on Monday.The agreement is intended to allow major projects to be approved following a single set of assessments and consultations at the provincial level instead of requiring projects to be approved by both the federal and provincial governments.Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated previously that Canada must approve major projects more quickly in face of economic uncertainty created by deteriorating trade ties with the United States.Ottawa posted the draft agreement on Monday and invited public comment. Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have also signed similar draft agreements.Mike Moyes, Manitoba’s environment and climate change minister, is expected to address the draft agreement Wednesday following question period at the Manitoba Legislature.Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan said he welcomes the agreement but questioned whether Manitoba is ready to pursue major infrastructure projects.Manitoba has yet to create the Crown-Indigenous corporation promised by Premier Wab Kinew to undertake major projects, he said.”There’s been no details,” Khan said. “There’s no mandate on what they are going to do, no idea when they’re going to start.”Khan also said it remains unclear whether this new corporation would have veto power over major projects.The expansion of the Port of Churchill, meanwhile, remains in a conceptual stage. Studies are slated to assess upgrades to the Hudson Bay Railway and icebreaking demands on Hudson Bay, among other areas where more information is required before the Arctic Gateway Group, which owns the port and railway, defines what it hopes to do at Manitoba’s only seaport.
Manitoba signs draft agreement with Ottawa to speed up reviews for major projects
