Massive offshore wind project among Carney’s ‘nation-building’ plans

The Prime Minister announced the first wave of nation-building projects on 11 September 2025. These projects will advance through the newly created Major Projects Office (MPO) for consideration, as could several early-stage initiatives that could be part of the next wave.

The MPO was announced by the Prime Minister in August. It will work to fast-track nation-building projects by streamlining regulatory assessment and approvals and helping to structure financing, in close partnership with provinces, territories, indigenous people, and private investors. It will help to identify projects that are in Canada’s national interest and accelerate their development, including by creating a single set of conditions – reducing the approval timeline for projects of national interest to a maximum of two years and working with provinces and territories to achieve a ‘one project, one review’ approach.

Projects included in the first wave to be assessed by the MPO include an LNG project, new nuclear power, a container terminal and copper mines. In addition to the five first-wave projects to be submitted to the MPO, the government also believes there are several others that could be transformative for the country, which are at an earlier stage and require further development. These include West Wind Atlantic Energy, a project for more than  60 GW of offshore wind in Nova Scotia, and more across Atlantic Canada, connecting renewable, emissions-free energy to eastern and Atlantic Canada to meet rapidly growing demand, with potential for exports to the northeastern US.

The MPO will create business development teams that will work with private-sector proponents, provinces, territories and indigenous peoples to advance these concepts so that projects have certainty in regulatory process and timing to accelerate Canada’s ability to attract broad sources of capital to grow, diversify and strengthen the country’s economy.

Responding, Marine Renewables Canada executive director Elisa Obermann said, “The development of Canada’s offshore wind resources represents a tremendous opportunity to deliver clean electricity, create thousands of jobs, and significantly reduce emissions.

“Marine Renewables Canada is encouraged to see the government of Canada recognise this potential by identifying Wind West as a future nation-building project. We look forward to working closely with federal and provincial governments to advance this transformative initiative and help unlock the full value of Canada’s offshore wind resources.”

Marine Renewables Canada said the announcement comes at a pivotal moment, as Nova Scotia prepares to launch its first call for bids for offshore wind. “Building a fully integrated, pan-Canadian electricity grid through initiatives like Wind West will be key to unlocking the full potential of our world-class offshore wind resources, driving investment, job creation, reducing emissions, and creating energy security for Canadians,” it said.