In the lead-up to Parliament’s fall sitting, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the creation of the Major Projects Office, and Build Canada Homes, initiatives designed to deliver on the federal government’s major project and housing priorities.
With their emphasis on infrastructure projects and housing construction, these two new initiatives will require the expertise and leadership of engineers.
Major Projects Office
The Major Projects Office (MPO) is a federal initiative designed to accelerate the development of infrastructure projects deemed to be in the national interest. Its mandate includes streamlining regulatory processes, coordinating intergovernmental reviews, and ensuring timely federal decisions, ideally within a two-year window. Based in Calgary and led by Dawn Farrell, a former CEO, Board Chair, and senior executive with experience in the infrastructure and energy sectors, the MPO is part of the broader implementation of the Building Canada Act, which aims to support projects that contribute to economic growth, climate objectives, Indigenous reconciliation, and national resilience.
The creation of the MPO introduces a centralized mechanism for coordinating federal reviews of large-scale infrastructure projects. This could improve regulatory efficiency and reduce delays that often hinder project timelines. However, the success of this initiative will depend on how effectively it integrates technical and other expertise, including engineering input, into its decision-making processes. Engineers play a critical role in ensuring infrastructure is designed and built to meet safety, environmental, and performance standards, and their involvement should be clearly defined within the MPO’s operational framework.
Build Canada Homes
The new government has also announced the creation of Build Canada Homes (BCH), a new federal agency that aims to address Canada’s housing supply challenges. BCH aims to fast-track housing development in Canada.
Build Canada Homes represents a shift in the federal approach to housing delivery, consolidating construction, financing, and innovation under a single agency. As the government looks to speed up housing construction, it is critical to recognize the important role engineers play in designing and upholding building codes and ensuring the safety of the built environment. This role is especially important given the expansion of prefabricated and factory-built construction methods.
It is also critical the BCH prioritize the principles of resiliency, climate adaptation and mitigation, and energy efficiency in its design and implementation of measures to incentivize housing construction and in its direct construction of new housing. Building the right kind of homes in the right places will ensure Canada addresses the housing crisis while prioritizing public safety and future prosperity.
