politics

Ottawa turns to a rarely used committee to fast-track its major projects bill

Bill C-39 touches 24 acts and regulations, drawing scrutiny from labour, environmental, and First Nations groups.

The Canadian

Politics

September 25, 2026

5 min read

The federal government is sending Bill C-39 to a specially created legislative committee, reviving a parliamentary mechanism that has not been used since the Harper era. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon has called the 243-page package the centrepiece of the fall sitting.

The bill is designed to accelerate major-project approvals and give Ottawa clearer tools to prevent or end disruptions in federally regulated industries. Its reach is unusually broad: 24 acts and regulations are amended or referenced, including provisions touching impact assessments, consultation, and the Canada Labour Code.

Organized labour, environmental organizations, and the Assembly of First Nations have raised objections to parts of the package. The special committee can focus MPs on one bill, but its use also intensifies the argument over whether legislation this wide-ranging will receive enough scrutiny.

Legislative committees have previously been used for consequential measures including the Clarity Act and the Civil Marriage Act. The next phase will test whether the government can move quickly while answering concerns from groups affected by the proposed changes.

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