# Canada Building Canada Strong Act legislative debate > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/canada-building-canada-strong-act-legislative-debate > Updated: 2026-09-24T02:42:36.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 3. The Canadian government, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, has introduced the Building Canada Strong Act (Bill C-39) to expedite the approval process for major infrastructure projects. The legislation aims to mandate that federal reviews and decisions be completed within one year of a comprehensive application. To achieve this, the act proposes transferring the review responsibility for certain large-scale projects, such as pipelines and power transmission lines, from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to other bodies like the Canada Energy Regulator and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The proposal has met with significant opposition from various political and advocacy groups. While Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc argued the act would strengthen supply chains and create jobs, opposition members and environmental groups have raised concerns regarding deregulation. Critics, including Climate Action Network Canada and National Climate Ottawa, argue the bill could dismantle environmental and labor protections to prioritize megaprojects, such as the West Coast pipeline and Roberts Bank megaport. Specific concerns include the potential for undermining federal responsibility for project reviews, limiting meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities, and increasing ecological risks. Opponents also suggest that the ability for the Cabinet to designate “regions of national interest” for fast-tracked projects may reduce transparency and oversight. Furthermore, the legislation includes significant amendments to the Canada Labour Code intended to modernize port governance and strengthen trade corridors. A central feature is the creation of a special mediator role to assist when collective bargaining reaches a deadlock. The bill also seeks to clarify Section 107 of the labour code, which governs the labour minister’s authority to end strikes or lockouts; under the new rules, the minister would be required to weigh a mediator’s assessment against the national interest before intervening. Reactions to these labour reforms are sharply divided. ## Claims - The federal government introduced Bill C-39, known as the Building Canada Strong Act. (corroborated by 18 sources) - The bill includes amendments to the Canada Labour Code regarding collective bargaining and strike interventions. (corroborated by 17 sources) - The bill would transfer review responsibilities for pipelines and power lines from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to other regulators. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The bill aims to establish a one-year timeline for federal project reviews and decisions. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The legislation maintains the requirement to consult and accommodate Indigenous groups. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The legislation proposes creating 'regions of national interest' that would allow for special exemptions to certain laws. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Canada Energy Regulator would handle reviews for international and interprovincial pipelines and transmission lines. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The bill proposes to hire 100 health and safety officers and 26 staff at the Canada Industrial Relations Board. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-24: Canada introduces Bill C-39 to reform federal labour laws Canada has introduced Bill C-39 to reform the Canada Labour Code, proposing a new special mediator role and clarifying the minister's power to end strikes in key sectors like rail and aviation. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canada-introduces-bill-c-39-to-reform-federal-labour-laws ### 2026-09-21: Canada environmental groups oppose Build Canada Strong Act Canadian environmental groups are condemning the Build Canada Strong Act, arguing that proposed deregulation of impact assessments and fast-tracking of megaprojects threatens ecosystems and Indigenous rights. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canada-environmental-groups-oppose-build-canada-strong-act ### 2026-09-20: Canada introduces Bill C-39 to accelerate infrastructure and reform labour laws Canada has introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, to fast-track major infrastructure approvals and amend the Canada Labour Code, sparking debate over economic growth versus workers' rights. 22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canada-introduces-building-canada-strong-act-to-fast-track-projects --- Cite as: Canada Building Canada Strong Act legislative debate. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/canada-building-canada-strong-act-legislative-debate