Wednesday September 10, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC – Posted at 10:17 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Two mines for critical minerals, a small nuclear reactor, a doubling of LNG production, and a port uppgrade for trans-Atlantic export are the top ‘big projects’ on the Liberal government’s list.
The projects are intended to be part of the promised ‘Canada Strong’ economy that will set this country up for more resilience in production of essential energy resources and the shipping of them.
The federal government shared the list with CBC News earlier today, which shows both pre-planning and attention to regional economies across the country:
- Phase two of LNG Canada in Kitimat, B.C., doubling its production of liquefied natural gas. [BC Premier David Eby held a hasty press conference at the LNG facility in Kitimat in July]
- The Darlington New Nuclear Project in Clarington, Ont., which will make small modular reactors. [For months, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been promoting small nuclear as a prime example of key energy projects as a way to help with Canadian energy resilience]
- Contrecœur Terminal Container Project to expand the Port of Montreal. [Carney highlighted this project and other ports several weeks ago.]
- The McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project in Saskatchewan. [Copper has been highlighted as a key mineral resource for months in federal economic discourse.]
- The expansion of the Red Chris Mine in northwestern B.C. [In July there was a mine rescue incident of some trapped inspectors at Red Chris Mine.]
This range of projects can be seen as helpful for future expansion of career-level and construction jobs (economic boost) as well as and support for military and defence (a larger cope of Carney government commitments).
More details to come from Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government on Thursday September 11, as previewed by Carney in a speech from Edmonton where he has been leading a Liberal cabinet retreat.
Next possible projects:
Some projects are not quite ready for prime time. They may not yet have a private investment component or other development requirements for a ready go-ahead.
That list includes:
- Wind West Atlantic Energy, supporting wind power in Atlantic Canada.
- The Alberta-based Pathways Plus carbon capture project.
- An Arctic economic and security corridor.
- Upgrades to the Port of Churchill.
- All-weather road infrastructure in Northern Canada.
- The Alto high-speed rail corridor between Toronto and Quebec City.
Reason for ‘big projects:
Speaking to his caucus in Edmonton, Carney said Wednesday the projects will “turbocharge” the economy, “diversify our products and build new markets and create those hundreds of thousands of high-paying careers for our workers, from the trades to technology.”
The projects “will increase our independence, boost our economy, align with the interests of Indigenous Peoples and advance our climate goals,” he told his Liberal MPs who are meeting ahead of the return of Parliament next week.
Fall session of parliament:
Today in Edmonton, the prime minister said he and his 168 Liberal MPs had been working hard all summer. Clearly many plans had been in the works including preparation of this list of five leading projects but also attention to key sectors hit by the US trade war, and trade negotiations with the United States.
New MPs have been getting to know their constituencies — attending events as speakers and having meetings with key stakeholders in government, business and community.
The fall session of the 45th Parliament of Canada starts next week. The 2025 fall sitting currently is scheduled to run September 15 through December 12.
A new climate competitiveness strategy will be introduced as well as competitiveness aimed at reducing the cost of living for Canadians, as outlined by Carney on September 10 in Edmonton.
===== RELATED:
- Carney today: big projects tomorrow, new housing strategy next week (September 10, 2025)
- Ports as key nation-building projects: Montreal, Churchill, east coast (August 26, 2025)
- First LNG Canada shipments to Asia highlighted by Premier Eby’s visit to Kitimat (July 31, 2025)
- Three drilling consultants have been rescued from Red Chris mine (July 25, 2025)
- Rescue of trapped miners in northern BC is underway says Premier (July 23, 2025)
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