Government of Canada releases What We Heard reports on proposed reforms on major projects, trade and transportation, and labour relations

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canada is building strength at home by diversifying our trade relationships, expanding opportunities for Canadian businesses, and reducing our dependence on any single partner.

To build a strong and resilient economy in an uncertain world, Canada needs to be able to build major projects more efficiently, move goods reliably across the country and to export markets, and support good jobs through fair, stable and productive workplaces. These elements are interconnected and essential to attracting investment, expanding trade, and strengthening Canada's competitiveness. 

Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, announced the release of four What We Heard reports following the Government's nationwide engagement on proposed legislative, regulatory and policy reforms to help build one strong Canadian economy. 

Together, these engagements explored how Canada can build major projects faster, strengthen and secure transportation networks, improve the movement of goods and services, and support fair and productive workplaces. The reports reflect input received from Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories, stakeholders, and Canadians, as well as engagement with unions, labour organizations, employers, employer associations and National Indigenous Organizations. 

The feedback captured in these reports will help inform the Government's work across three key areas: making major project reviews and decision-making more efficient and predictable; modernizing transportation and strengthening supply chains so Canadian goods can reach markets reliably; and modernizing the federal labour relations framework to support fair agreements, and greater stability. 

The report on Proposals for Getting Major Projects Built in Canada is built on over 26,000 submissions, including over 400 submissions from Indigenous Peoples and industry, academia, provincial, territorial and municipal government stakeholders. The report highlights strong interest in improving the efficiency and predictability of federal regulatory processes while emphasizing the importance of maintaining robust environmental protections and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

More than 300 industry participants took part in three engagement sessions led by Transport Canada. They received 82 submissions from Indigenous Peoples, 210 written submissions from other participants, and 191 from industry. The Strengthening One Canadian Economy through Trade and Transportation report highlights the strong interest in the proposed transportation related legislative and policy changes to create a more efficient transportation system to move goods and diversify trade. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis participants emphasized the importance of distinction-based approaches and the importance of upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Industry and other participants noted ways to improve how the measures are implemented. Participants also wanted more information on several proposals, such as the corridor-based planning, the proposed Transportation Projects Office, digital trade initiatives and investments in trade-enabling infrastructure. Transport Canada's second consultation report on Strengthening Transportation Security Clearances for "One Canadian Economy" notes that participants recognized vulnerabilities in the current Transportation Security Clearance program and generally supported the proposed legislative amendments to the Canada Transportation Act to address evolving security threats. Continued engagement will support further policy analysis and regulatory development as the work proceeds.  

The report on Building Canada Strong for All emphasizes that Canada's current federal labour relations framework works well in most cases, with the vast majority of collective agreements reached through good-faith bargaining. At the same time, participants noted that existing tools are not always effective in resolving the most complex disputes, particularly where labour disruptions can have broader impacts on businesses, communities, supply chains and the public interest. The report highlights opportunities to modernize the framework to better support unions and employers in reaching agreements and resolving disputes, helping achieve better outcomes for workers, employers and Canadians. This will help inform policy directions to modernize Canada's labour relations framework and strengthen protections and supports for workers. 

Together, the reports reflect a diversity of perspectives shared through these engagements and identify common themes that will help inform next steps as the Government's considers the implementation of proposed legislative, regulatory and policy reforms to build a stronger economy for all. 

Further engagement with Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders, and Canadians will continue as the proposal are developed and implemented. Legislation is expected to be introduced in the next sitting of Parliament. 

Quotes 

"Canadians have made it clear that they want a regulatory system that is more efficient and predictable, without compromising environmental protections or Indigenous rights. The feedback received will guide our next steps in accelerating nation-building projects and positioning Canada as a stronger, more sovereign, and more prosperous nation." 

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy 

"Canada's trade corridors connect Canadian businesses to markets and supply chains at home and around the world. We heard directly from Indigenous Peoples, the transportation industry, and Canadians about what is needed to build stronger, more efficient and more resilient supply chains. We are taking action to reduce red tape, strengthen supply chains, accelerate infrastructure development and attract the investment needed to grow Canada's economy and create good jobs." 

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons 

"Across the country, workers, unions, employers and partners told us what they need from a modern labour relations framework. I want to thank all stakeholders who took the time to share their perspectives throughout these consultations. This feedback is invaluable in helping us build federally regulated workplaces that are fair, modern and ready for the economy of tomorrow." 

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario 

Quick Facts 

• From May 8 to July 22, 2026, the Government of Canada conducted engagement on proposed reforms related to major projects and regulatory efficiency. 
• Discussions centred around two discussion papers: 
  • Getting Major Projects Built in Canada: Outlining proposals to ensure that federal reviews and decision-making timelines take no more than one year, once all information from the project proponent has been received. 
  • Strengthening One Canadian Economy through Trade and Transportation: Outlining proposals that would improve supply chain efficiency, reduce red tape, diversify Canada's trade, and attract new investment. 
• The proposed reforms will improve regulatory efficiency, while maintaining robust environmental standards and respecting Indigenous rights, by: 
  • Ensuring federal reviews and decision-making timelines take no more than one year, once all information from the project proponent has been received; 
  • Establishing a Crown Consultation Hub to strengthen Crown consultation on project reviews and coordinate one Indigenous consultation process, per community, per project; 
  • Creating a regulatory system where a single comprehensive federal decision is made on permits and approvals for major projects; 
  • Assigning responsibility and authority for certain projects to the federal regulatory organization with the most expertise; 
  • Creating Federal Economic Zones through regional impact assessments, in consultation with Indigenous Peoples; 
  • Streamlining the regulatory environment to make laws and rules more efficient, less repetitive and more flexible; 
  • Establishing trade corridors to improve supply chains; 
  • Improving port governance; 
  • Establishing a Transportation Project Office to advance projects; 
  • Reducing red tape and lowering costs for businesses, making supply chains faster, more reliable and more predictable; 
  • Attracting investment and unlocking new infrastructure development 
  • Supporting the creation of jobs, making Canada more competitive in the global market; and 
  • Building a more connected one Canadian economy. 
• From July 20 to August 21, 2026, Transport Canada conducted engagement to gather feedback on proposed legislative changes to strengthen and modernize the Transportation Security Clearance Program. Participants recognized the need to respond to evolving transportation security risks, including organized crime, supply chain exploitation, and other emerging threats. 
  • Discussions centred around the discussion paper, Strengthening Transportation Security Clearances for One Canadian Economy which outlined proposed legislative amendments to the Canada Transportation Act to expand risk assessments, broaden the use of security clearances, support information sharing and improve program integrity. 
• Separately, Employment and Social Development Canada's engagement was held from April 17 to May 25, 2026, and July 3 to August 3, 2026, and gathered feedback from more than 100 unions, labour organizations, employers, employer associations and National Indigenous Organizations. As part of this consultation process, 13 targeted roundtables were held, and 319 written submissions were received on the discussion paper that was published online for comment: 
  • Targeted Consultations on Building Canada Strong for All: Outlined a series of potential policy measures and/or legislative amendments to the Canada Labour Code that could help strengthen labour relations and supports for workers, such as reviewing section 107 of the Code, introducing expedited grievance arbitration provisions, and strengthening protections against misclassification and wage theft. 

Relevant Links 

• Building Canada Strong – Bigger, Faster, For All  
• What We Heard Report: Proposals for Getting Major Projects Built in Canada
• What We Heard Report: Strengthening One Canadian Economy through Trade and Transportation 
• What We Heard Report: Strengthening Transportation Security Clearances for "One Canadian Economy" 
• What We Heard Report: Building Canada Strong for All 

SOURCE President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy

Contacts: For more information (media only), please contact: Gabriel Brunet, Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, 819-665-6527, [email protected]; Media Relations, Privy Council Office, 613-957-5420, [email protected]; Marie-Justine Torres, Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, 613-327-5918, [email protected]; Media relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055, [email protected]; Jennifer Kozelj, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]