Economy & public financesCanada

In forceBoth parts in force: the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and its regulations since 1 January 2026, the Building Canada Act since 26 June 2025.

One Canadian Economy Act (Bill C-5): internal free trade and fast-tracked national interest projects

Passed in three weeks and assented to on 26 June 2025, the act has two parts. Part 1, in force since 1 January 2026, deems goods, services and workers that meet provincial or territorial requirements to meet comparable federal ones. Part 2, the Building Canada Act, lets the federal cabinet list « national interest projects » for five years: their federal approvals are deemed favourable and grouped into a single document. Two projects were listed in October 2026, including a West Coast oil pipeline.

Updated: November 5, 2026Next milestone: June 2027 — Legal deadline for the first yearly independent review of the listed projects

At a glance

Reference text

One Canadian Economy Act (S.C. 2025, c. 2) — An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act[1][2]

No. S.C. 2025, c. 2 (Bill C-5, 45th Parliament, 1st session) · June 26, 2025

Read the text ↗

Carried by

  • Dominic LeBlanc[2][11]President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy — sponsor of the bill, Part 2 before the Senate · 2025 · Initiator
  • Chrystia Freeland[2][10]Minister of Transport and Internal Trade — Part 1 (internal free trade and labour mobility) before the Senate · 2025 · Initiator

Implementation

Status

In force

since January 1, 2026[4][5]

Both parts in force: the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and its regulations since 1 January 2026, the Building Canada Act since 26 June 2025.

Stated objective

Remove federal barriers to the interprovincial movement of goods and services and to labour mobility, while continuing to protect health, safety, social and economic well-being and the environment; and advance national interest projects through an accelerated process that enhances regulatory certainty and investor confidence, to strengthen Canada’s prosperity, security, economic security, defence and autonomy, while protecting the environment and respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples.[1][3][4]

According to the purpose clauses (section 4) of the two acts enacted by Bill C-5

  • Window during which cabinet may list national interest projects

    5 years

    26 June 2025 – 26 June 2030 · under subsection 5(2) of the Building Canada Act[3]

    No listing either while Parliament is prorogued or dissolved.

Main measures

  • Goods and services: a good or service that meets a provincial or territorial requirement is considered to meet any comparable federal requirement on its interprovincial movement — comparable meaning same aspect, similar objective and any conditions set by regulation.[4]
  • Labour mobility: federal regulatory bodies must recognize an authorization to practise an occupation issued by a province or territory and, on application, issue the comparable federal authorization.[4][5]
  • National interest projects: cabinet may list a project in Schedule 1 by order, considering among other factors security and autonomy, economic benefits, likelihood of success, Indigenous interests and clean growth; a 30-day notice in the Canada Gazette, consultation of the province and its written consent in its exclusive jurisdiction, and consultation of potentially affected Indigenous peoples come first.[3]
  • Deemed approvals: for a listed project, every determination required under the listed federal laws (Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, Impact Assessment Act, Canadian Navigable Waters Act…) is deemed made in its favour; the minister issues one document, with conditions, deemed to be those authorizations. It expires if the project is not substantially started within five years.[3]
  • Limits: cabinet may never add to Schedule 2 laws such as the Criminal Code, the Indian Act, the Canada Labour Code, the Official Languages Act or the Access to Information Act; nuclear and energy-regulator projects need the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission or the Canada Energy Regulator to confirm safety first.[3]
  • Transparency and oversight: public registry of listed projects with cost estimates and timelines; conditions, studies and federal recommendations made public 30 days before the document is issued; a parliamentary review committee reports at least every 180 days; yearly independent review of each project.[3]

In data

House of Commons recorded votes on Bill C-5[2][13]

June 2025, number of members (paired members excluded)

House of Commons recorded votes on Bill C-5 — chart values
VoteYeasNays
Second reading (16 June 2025)30429
Report stage concurrence (20 June 2025)31324
Third reading — Part 1, internal trade (20 June 2025)3351
Third reading — Part 2, Building Canada Act (20 June 2025)30631

Scale starts at 0 · The Senate passed the bill at third reading « on division », without a recorded count.

Key figures

Projects listed as national interest projects

2

October 2026 · Observed

according to Budget 2026 and the consolidated Building Canada Act[16][3]

The West Coast oil pipeline (1 October) and Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (30 October); none in the first fifteen months.

Initiatives referred to the Major Projects Office

28

September 2025 – November 2026 · Observed

according to Budget 2026[16]

18 projects and 10 « transformative strategies »; a referral to the Office is not a listing under the act.

GDP growth

1.9%

2025

OECDSee the card →

Timeline

  1. Under debate

    Bill C-5 introduced in the House of Commons (first reading)[2]

  2. House of Commons adopts the bill at second reading, 304 votes to 29[2]

    Recorded vote no. 13; the bill is referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

  3. Senate Committees of the Whole study the bill before it reaches the Senate[2][10][11][12]

    Ministers Chrystia Freeland (Part 1), Dominic LeBlanc and Rebecca Alty (Part 2) appear, then witnesses including the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Manitoba Métis Federation, the Temagami First Nation, the Business Council of Canada, Canada’s Building Trades Unions and West Coast Environmental Law.

  4. Transport committee reports the bill with amendments to Part 2[8][2]

    Added among others: a 30-day notice in the Canada Gazette before listing a project and the written consent of the province where it falls within exclusive provincial jurisdiction, a conflict-of-interest check on proponents, a public registry of national interest projects and the power to define « national interest » by order.

  5. House of Commons passes the bill at third reading, voting on each part separately[2]

    Part 1 and the short title: 335 votes to 1 (vote no. 33). Part 2 and the schedule: 306 votes to 31 (vote no. 34).

  6. In force

    Passed by the Senate and royal assent: Part 2 (Building Canada Act) in force[2][13][1][3]

    The Building Canada Act came into force on assent; Part 1 (internal free trade and labour mobility) awaited a date fixed by order.

  7. Senate rejects amendments and passes the bill at third reading « on division »; royal assent the same day[13][2]

    Amendments negatived include those of Senator McCallum (15 votes to 58) on the laws that may be bypassed, of Senator Prosper (28 to 48) making the listing factors mandatory and of Senator McPhedran (6 to 67); Senator Woo’s amendment was also negatived. Royal assent was given by written declaration at 5:29 p.m.

  8. Ministers designated: President of the King’s Privy Council for Part 2, Minister of Transport for Part 1[6][7]

    Orders in council P.C. 2025-567 and 2025-568, made on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

  9. Launch of the Major Projects Office[3][14]

    The act allows an office to coordinate federal approvals and serve as a single point of contact for proponents. Budget 2025 provides $213.8 million over five years from 2025-26 for the Office.

  10. First five projects referred to the Major Projects Office — not yet listed as national interest projects[14][3]

    LNG Canada Phase 2 (British Columbia), the Darlington new nuclear project (Ontario), the Contrecœur container terminal (Quebec), the McIlvenna Bay copper mine (Saskatchewan) and the Red Chris mine expansion (British Columbia): more than $60 billion of investment according to the government. Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act stayed empty until October 2026.

  11. Regulations under Part 1 made: exceptions and conditions[5]

    Federal requirements under the Agricultural Products Marketing Act, the Canadian Dairy Commission Act, the Farm Products Agencies Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Act are excluded from mutual recognition of goods, as are hazardous waste and recyclables; a worker must be in good standing with the provincial body and pay the federal fees.

  12. In force

    Part 1 and its regulations in force[4][5]

    Both parts in force: the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and its regulations since 1 January 2026, the Building Canada Act since 26 June 2025.

  13. Current step

    Bill C-39 (Building Canada Strong Act) would amend the Building Canada Act — in committee in the House of Commons[17][18]

    Introduced on 21 September 2026 and referred to committee on 8 October 2026, it would among other things let cabinet designate « regions of national interest » with a framework similar to national interest projects, and let the minister change conditions of approvals granted before a project was listed.

  14. First national interest project listed: a West Coast oil pipeline[3][16]

    Order in council P.C. 2026-925 adds the « West Coast Oil Pipeline » (called Pacific Link in Budget 2026) to Schedule 1: a pipeline of up to about 1,250 km able to carry one million barrels of Canadian crude oil a day from Bruderheim (Alberta) to a deepwater port near Delta (British Columbia), with about 11 pump stations and a terminal for very large crude carriers.

  15. Second national interest project listed: Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (Delta, British Columbia)[16]

    A proposed three-berth container terminal adding 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units of yearly capacity, about 50% of the Port of Vancouver’s container capacity, according to Budget 2026.

  16. Budget 2026: three more projects under assessment for listing[16]

    Since July 2026 the Major Projects Office has been assessing the deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel (Ontario), the Mackenzie Valley Highway (Northwest Territories) and the Grays Bay Road and Port (Nunavut). It handles 28 initiatives in all, of which 18 projects worth more than $194 billion according to the government.

  17. Upcoming — the outcome is not known

    Legal deadline for the first yearly independent review of the listed projects[3]

    Within 90 days after the end of each financial year (here 31 March 2027), the minister must have an independent review of each national interest project conducted — progress on measurable outcomes, timelines and budgets — and table it in Parliament.

  18. Upcoming — the outcome is not known

    Fifth anniversary: end of the power to list new national interest projects[3]

    Under the act as in force, cabinet can no longer add projects to Schedule 1 or amend Schedule 2 after this date, and the minister can no longer amend conditions; the minister must also have completed a review of the act within five years of its coming into force.

  19. Upcoming — the outcome is not known

    Deadline for the minister’s review of Part 1 (internal free trade and labour mobility)[4]

    Within five years after its coming into force on 1 January 2026, with a report laid before each House of Parliament.

The debate

Citoyen takes no position: arguments are reported as their authors put them.

According to its supporters

  • Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland told the Senate that, with U.S. tariffs « battering our economy », free trade at home « costs nothing » and noted that several provinces had already passed laws removing internal trade barriers; the government puts the cost of internal trade and labour barriers at up to $200 billion a year in lost opportunities.[10][15]
  • Minister Dominic LeBlanc called the bill the response to a « hinge moment »: the federal government must accelerate approvals for projects of national significance — transmission lines, ports, rail, energy — working with provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, through a single federal office for proponents.[11]
  • The Business Council of Canada argued that regulatory barriers have kept Canada from reaching export markets, citing an S&P Global study finding that discovering, approving and building a mine takes more than 20 years in Canada.[12]
  • Canada’s Building Trades Unions, representing over 600,000 skilled tradespeople, backed the bill while saying it « isn’t perfect »: « it takes longer to have a project approved in Canada than it does to build one », as with the Trans Mountain expansion, built in just over five years after more than a decade of approval.[12]

According to its opponents

  • The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, said the bill was « being rammed through »: its powers present a substantial risk to First Nations’ collective rights and call for deep consultation and consent, yet rights holders were given an « unreasonably tiny window ».[10]
  • Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier of the Temagami First Nation called the bill « a betrayal » of reconciliation, developed without First Nations, pointing to more than 12,000 mining claims staked in her territory without consent, and asked the government to « withdraw this bill ».[12]
  • West Coast Environmental Law, speaking also for groups such as Ecojustice, the David Suzuki Foundation, Équiterre and the Sierra Club Foundation, criticized a « decide now, think later » approach: cabinet could list projects before any environmental review and shut the public out; it asked to shorten the five-year listing window to two years.[12]
  • For the Bloc Québécois, Jean-Denis Garon found Part 1 « not very contentious » but objected to merging it with Part 2, which would let ministers set aside federal laws for chosen projects and serve mainly the oil industry, and to the time limit imposed on the debate.[9]

Indicators to watch

  • Gross fixed capital formation, % of GDP · Banque mondialeno Citoyen card yet
  • GDP growth · OCDESee the card →
  • Interprovincial trade flows · Statistique Canadano Citoyen card yet
  • National interest projects listed in Schedule 1 and authorization documents issued · Gouvernement du Canada (Gazette du Canada)no Citoyen card yet

Sources

  1. [1]One Canadian Economy Act (S.C. 2025, c. 2) — An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, as assented to — Department of Justice Canada — Justice Laws Website, June 26, 2025
  2. [2]C-5 (45-1) — An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act (LEGISinfo: stages, recorded votes, royal assent) — Parliament of Canada
  3. [3]Building Canada Act (S.C. 2025, c. 2, s. 4) — consolidated, current to 2026-10-19, Schedule 1 as amended by P.C. 2026-925 — Department of Justice Canada — Justice Laws Website, October 19, 2026
  4. [4]Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act (S.C. 2025, c. 2, s. 2) — consolidated, in force January 1, 2026 (SI/2025-107) — Department of Justice Canada — Justice Laws Website, October 19, 2026
  5. [5]Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Regulations (SOR/2025-225, P.C. 2025-784) — Department of Justice Canada — Justice Laws Website, November 6, 2025
  6. [6]Order Designating the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada as the Minister for the Purposes of the Building Canada Act (SI/2025-89, P.C. 2025-567) — Department of Justice Canada — Justice Laws Website, July 3, 2025
  7. [7]Order Designating the Minister of Transport as the Minister for the Purposes of the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act (SI/2025-90, P.C. 2025-568) — Department of Justice Canada — Justice Laws Website, July 3, 2025
  8. [8]First Report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities — Bill C-5 — House of Commons of Canada, June 19, 2025
  9. [9]House of Commons Debates (Hansard), 45th Parliament, 1st session, sitting no. 16 — House of Commons of Canada, June 16, 2025
  10. [10]Debates of the Senate, 45th Parliament, 1st session, sitting no. 11 — Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-5 (Part 1; Indigenous and other witnesses) — Senate of Canada, June 16, 2025
  11. [11]Debates of the Senate, 45th Parliament, 1st session, sitting no. 12 — Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-5 (Part 2, ministers) — Senate of Canada, June 17, 2025
  12. [12]Debates of the Senate, 45th Parliament, 1st session, sitting no. 13 — Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-5 (witnesses) — Senate of Canada, June 18, 2025
  13. [13]Debates of the Senate, 45th Parliament, 1st session, sitting no. 16 — Bill C-5 at third reading, Royal Assent — Senate of Canada, June 26, 2025
  14. [14]Budget 2025 — Chapter 1: Building a Stronger Canadian Economy (1.1 Accelerating Major Nation-Building Projects) — Department of Finance Canada, November 4, 2025
  15. [15]Budget 2025 — Overview — Department of Finance Canada, November 4, 2025
  16. [16]Budget 2026 — Chapter 2: A more competitive and connected Canada (projects listed or considered for listing under the Building Canada Act) — Department of Finance Canada, November 5, 2026
  17. [17]C-39 (45-1) — An Act respecting certain measures to strengthen the economy (Building Canada Strong Act), LEGISinfo — Parliament of Canada
  18. [18]Bill C-39, Building Canada Strong Act — first reading text and summary — Parliament of Canada, September 21, 2026