Ottawa tables the Building Canada Strong Act — one-year federal project reviews, trade-corridor powers, and labour-code changes.

The Liberal government on Monday, 21 September 2026 — Parliament’s first day back from summer break — presented Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, aiming to put legal force behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “one project, one review, one year” promise for federal project approvals, according to The Logic and Canada’s National Observer reporting opened for this pack. Soft FLAG: this desk did not open a Canada.ca bill text PDF or House of Commons LEGISinfo primary in this run — structure and quotes below are attributed to those secondary outlets. Soft FLAG: introduction ≠ royal assent; nothing in the opened coverage says the bill has passed.

The mechanism is simultaneous multi-department review on a clock that starts when a proponent files a complete application. Soft FLAG: The Logic reports the bill includes no consequences if regulators miss the one-year deadline — the clock “only ticks.” Soft FLAG: a senior official briefing reporters on condition of anonymity told The Logic the Impact Assessment Agency has recently averaged about 14 months on its reviews, with other departments adding time. Soft FLAG: National Observer says Environment and Climate Change would approve both environmental impact assessment and development permits, with construction and operation then overseen by the relevant ministry (e.g., Transport Canada for a port).

Named institutional pieces as opened sources describe them: a Transportation Projects Office functioning similarly to the existing Major Projects Office; ministerial power to designate national trade corridors; a National Trade Corridors Council to monitor designated corridors; and changes that would let port authorities pursue more commercial structures such as joint ventures, The Logic and National Observer report. Soft FLAG: National Observer quotes the PMO saying the legislation “gives business the confidence to invest in Canada” while maintaining environmental standards and Indigenous rights — government communications colour. Soft FLAG: Carney, via National Observer: “Canada is a country of high standards, but high standards do not require slow decisions.” Soft FLAG: Minister Dominic LeBlanc told the Commons the bill establishes clear federal review timelines and reduces duplication across ministries, National Observer reports.

Labour chapter: The Logic says the bill amends the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated sectors — especially ports and railways — to try to avert work stoppages without directly removing the right to strike. Soft FLAG: Labour Minister Patty Hajdu said in a news conference there is “no provision in the labour code changes that weakens the right to strike,” per The Logic. Soft FLAG: the bill would entrench an interpretation used to end stoppages by ministerial order after a special mediator files a public report, and would require relationship-building sessions after bargaining that led to a strike, lockout or binding arbitration — The Logic detail, attribute.

What to watch without mood: committee study and any Indigenous, provincial or labour amendments; whether the one-year clock survives with enforcement teeth; first corridor designations if enacted.

Floor: Bill C-39 Building Canada Strong Act tabled 21 Sep 2026 (The Logic / National Observer) — simultaneous federal reviews on a 1-year clock from complete application (no miss-penalty in bill per Logic); Transportation Projects Office + trade-corridor designation + port commercial reforms + Canada Labour Code changes; not yet law.