2025-2026 Regulatory and permitting efficiency for clean growth projects
The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects focuses on the federal efforts needed to accelerate regulatory efficiency for clean growth projects. It is intended to help get clean growth projects built faster by accelerating decision-making related to these projects.
Section 1. Overview of CanNor's Role in Supporting Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency
CanNor, through its Northern Projects Management Office (NPMO), provides single-window coordination of federal participation in impact assessments of major projects in the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), and acts as Crown Consultation Coordinator. The federal Impact Assessment Act generally does not apply in the North and, instead, the territories each have their own unique impact assessment and regulatory review processes, rooted in modern treaties and led by co-management boards. CanNor maintains its coordination role for clean growth projects in the North and can support federal regulatory and permitting processes for these projects, after impact assessments are complete.
Section 2. Results for Thematic Areas of the Cabinet Directive
Theme 1: Strengthening service standards
Actual results:
Nil.
CanNor is not a regulator and does not issue regulatory permits or licenses.
Theme 2: Providing timely guidance to proponents
Actual results:
In 2025-26, CanNor's NPMO convened federal and territorial decision authorities/regulators, as well as impact assessment co-management boards, to support proponent and project readiness for anticipated or ongoing northern impact assessment processes. NPMO supported on 12 northern clean growth projects, including critical mineral, hydroelectricity, and enabling infrastructure projects, though its proponent-focused activities were concentrated on seven northern clean growth projects. NPMO's activities either supported early engagement with proponents, to enhance their planning and preparation for northern impact assessment processes, or provided navigation and issues management support during a northern impact assessment process.
Theme 3: Coordinating consultation with Indigenous Peoples
Actual results:
As Crown Consultation Coordinator, CanNor's NPMO consultation-focused activities were concentrated on seven northern clean growth projects in 2025-26. For these projects, CanNor's NPMO coordinated and facilitated 48 project-specific Crown consultation meetings between Indigenous governments and organizations and up to six federal decision authorities. This work supports federal decision authorities in fulfilling their duty to consult with Indigenous Peoples and to assist with clean growth projects moving in a timely manner.
To support early engagement in 2025-26, CanNor's NPMO signed its first-ever project-specific consultation protocol, co-developed with an Indigenous government, for the impact assessment of a proposed critical mineral mine in Yukon. NPMO also initiated co-development work on project-specific consultation protocols with two other northern Indigenous governments for proposed critical mineral and hydroelectricity projects.