National

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

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Mar, 2025 10:40 AM

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.

LIVE: Just build it. https://t.co/9PfTwX81mk
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) March 20, 2025

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.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Liberal leadership candidates to face off in final debate in Montreal

Liberal leadership contenders will take the stage again Tuesday night for the English-language debate in Montreal — their last shot to confront each other in person and shake up the race. The four candidates left in the race played it safe in Monday night’s French-language debate.

Liberal leadership candidates to face off in final debate in Montreal

Provinces have roughly $100B at hand for tariff relief, Desjardins estimates

Canada's provincial governments have enough fiscal firepower to respond to looming U.S. tariffs without supersizing their debt burdens, a new report says. The analysis released Tuesday from Desjardins Economics predicted upcoming provincial budgets will be dominated by plans to prepare for an unknown 2025 as promised tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump put a cloud over fiscal forecasts.

Provinces have roughly $100B at hand for tariff relief, Desjardins estimates

Ailing Pope Frances appoints new Archbishop of Vancouver

Pope Francis, who is hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia, has named a new archbishop for Vancouver. The Vancouver archdiocese says the Pope appointed Archbishop Richard Smith and accepted the resignation of J. Michael Miller.

Ailing Pope Frances appoints new Archbishop of Vancouver

Another earthquake for B.C., less than four days after cities rattled

An earthquake has struck off the British Columbia coast, less than four days after major population centres were shaken by a similar-sized tremor. But Earthquakes Canada says the latest quake wasn't felt by anyone and it occurred in the Pacific, 182 kilometres west of Port Alice in northwest Vancouver Island.

Another earthquake for B.C., less than four days after cities rattled

Windstorm knocks out power to thousands of BC Hydro customers along south coast

An overnight windstorm along British Columbia's south coast has knocked out power for thousands. BC Hydro is reporting more 7,000 people along southern Vancouver Island woke up to outages on Tuesday.

Windstorm knocks out power to thousands of BC Hydro customers along south coast

B.C. plans 'substantive changes' for interprovincial trade

British Columbia plans to enter a meeting with other provinces next week prepared to make "substantive changes" to its interprovincial trade barriers as the threat of hefty U.S. tariffs looms, Economic Development Minister Diana Gibson said. Gibson met virtually Friday with her provincial counterparts on the Committee on Internal Trade and said they were committed to reducing trade barriers within the country.