British Columbia introduces the Infrastructure Projects Act to accelerate critical developments

On 1 May 2025, the Government of British Columbia introduced the Infrastructure Projects Act (the “Act”) – a landmark piece of legislation aimed at expediting the delivery of key infrastructure projects that British Columbians rely on, including schools, hospitals, and affordable housing. If passed, the legislation will open the door for faster approvals of provincially significant private-sector projects that contribute to economic growth.

Over the past few years, the Province of British Columbia (“B.C.”) has launched the largest and most ambitious capital plan in its history. With population growth putting pressure on public services, the new Act is designed to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate project timelines.

If passed, the Infrastructure Projects Act will:

• Speed up permitting and approvals for both public and certain private infrastructure projects designated as provincially significant.
• Create a qualified professionals reliance framework to streamline provincial permitting.
• Enable expedited environmental assessments without lowering British Columbia’s high environmental standards.
• Establish an agreement-seeking process with local governments for alternative permit authorisations, getting projects “shovel-ready” faster.
• Legally empower the Ministry of Infrastructure to lead in planning, land acquisition, procurement, and delivery of vertical infrastructure.
• Facilitate bundled procurements, allowing the provincial government to deliver multiple similar projects more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Further information on the Act can be found here.

The Act also enhances collaboration across the public sector. Ministries will be able to work more directly with school districts, health authorities, and post-secondary institutions to manage and deliver infrastructure projects on their behalf. This partnership model is expected to improve coordination, reduce costs, and boost delivery speed source.

In addition to public infrastructure, the Act will support a limited number of provincially significant projects proposed by Crown corporations, Indigenous governments, and private partners. These include initiatives that are vital to B.C.’s broader economic resilience.

This legislative push comes on the heels of the 2025 provincial budget—Standing Strong for B.C.— investing $45.9 billion in taxpayer-supported capital investments over three years, including $15.9 billion to strengthen transit and transportation infrastructure, $15.5 billion to support capital investments in health care and $4.6 billion to build, renovate and seismically upgrade schools. Budget priorities include $7.7 billion for healthcare and education, as well as $318 million for BC Builds, a housing initiative targeting middle-income renters. These investments are expected to support over 180,000 jobs and stimulate long-term growth amid global economic uncertainty.

Infrastructure BC, a Crown corporation reporting to the Ministry of Finance, will play a crucial role in the implementation of the Act. With experience managing more than 80 large-scale infrastructure projects worth over $32.5 billion, Infrastructure BC will provide procurement leadership, help mitigate project risks, and encourage innovation through modern delivery models such as Progressive Design-Build and Alliance contracts.

As B.C. faces challenges ranging from affordability to climate adaptation, the Infrastructure Projects Act represents a strategic pivot toward faster, smarter, and more responsive infrastructure development. Notably, B.C. is not the only province to have put an emphasis on nation-building in recent days.

It is clear that the push to build in Canada has taken root in response to the uncertainty caused by US tariffs and related threats. The drive to bolster the Canadian economy and introduce additional infrastructure is not only being seen in BC. In fact, in recent days we have seen other provinces take the stand and advocate for additional support for provincial projects and infrastructure. On 5 May 2025, the Premier of Ontario Doug Ford wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney setting out a series of Ontario priorities that he hopes Carney will address, including building a tunnel under Highway 401, accessing critical minerals, and building an electric-vehicle supply chain.

It appears that the recent political climate has inspired Canada to take its economy in its own hands and embark on an ambitious nation-building project.

We are excited to have opened a new office in Toronto, supporting our Canadian and international clients with their construction and infrastructure project needs. Should you have any questions on this article or require tailored advice in respect of future opportunities or projects in Canada, please contact Andrés Durán.