Sunday, January 18, 2026
ADVT 
National

Poilievre wants 'shovel ready zones' with pre-approved construction permits

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Mar, 2025 10:40 AM
  • Poilievre wants 'shovel ready zones' with pre-approved construction permits

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants to create what he calls "shovel ready zones" that would have pre-approved permits for major projects resources or energy projects.

In a media statement, Poilievre says that the goal is to permits in place for a mine, liquefied natural gas plant, pipeline or other major project. 

The Conservative plans says they would make sure the pre-permitted area is "safe for Canada and the environment."

Companies would then be able to buy pre-approved land for a project and receive a permit and then complete a "checklist" on how they intend to protect "nature and people."

This is the second day in a row Poilievre has made a pre-campaign pitch focused on speeding up approvals for major projects. 

In Sudbury on Wednesday, he set a deadline to green-light federal Ring of Fire permits within six months — a move that received pushback from some First Nations over concern about ignoring the legal duty to consultation.

MORE National ARTICLES

Ottawa signs $40M deal with Saskatchewan to offer drug coverage for rare diseases

Ottawa signs $40M deal with Saskatchewan to offer drug coverage for rare diseases
The Saskatchewan and federal governments have announced an agreement for coverage of select new drugs for rare diseases. Ottawa says the plan is to invest more than $40 million to cover three drugs that treat certain cancers and a urinary issue. 

Ottawa signs $40M deal with Saskatchewan to offer drug coverage for rare diseases

Liberal leadership race: A look at the potential candidates

Liberal leadership race: A look at the potential candidates
The federal Liberals are running their first leadership race in more than a decade and their shortest in the party's modern history to replace Justin Trudeau. He announced Jan. 6 that he will step down as soon as a national vote is completed to elect his successor.

Liberal leadership race: A look at the potential candidates

Man dies after falling into a sinkhole while skiing at resort in southeast B.C.

Man dies after falling into a sinkhole while skiing at resort in southeast B.C.
A skier has died after falling into what police say was a snow sinkhole at the Fernie Alpine Resort in British Columbia's East Kootenay region.  RCMP say in a statement that an ambulance was called for the 67-year-old man on Wednesday when he was found buried in snow in a natural terrain trap. 

Man dies after falling into a sinkhole while skiing at resort in southeast B.C.

Border jumper into Canada deported

Border jumper into Canada deported
U-S Customs and Border Protection says the 33-year-old man was handed back to American authorities in Tacoma, Washington. The man was arrested in Surrey over the weekend.

Border jumper into Canada deported

Snowfall warning for 2 BC highways

Snowfall warning for 2 BC highways
Environment Canada is warning of heavy snowfall on two stretches of highways in B-C overnight and possibly stretching into today. The agency says Highway 16 from Tete Jaune Cache to the Alberta boundary will see up to 10 centimetres of snow through noon.

Snowfall warning for 2 BC highways

Elderly driver killed in a T-bone crash

Elderly driver killed in a T-bone crash
Police in Delta are looking for video surveillance footage after an elderly driver was killed in a T-bone collision. Police say the victim was leaving a Wendy's restaurant on December 22nd when the vehicle was struck on its driver's side by another car.

Elderly driver killed in a T-bone crash