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Canada flags four B.C. mega-projects as ‘national interest’—here’s how they stack up

Ottawa has singled out four major B.C. projects—from LNG terminals to mining and transmission infrastructure—as nationally significant. Together, they represent tens of billions in investment and could reshape the province’s economic and energy landscape.

By Michael McCullough /

The federal government’s Major Projects Office has identified four B.C. projects it considers to be in the national interest. Here’s how they measure up.

Estimated costs of the Fantastic Four projects

  • LNG Canada’s Phase 2 would double the facility’s liquefaction and transshipment capacity to 28 million tonnes of LNG per year, making it the 2nd largest LNG terminal in the world. The feds expect it to attract $33 billion in private-sector capital to Canada.
  • The expansion at Red Chris, using a “block cave” method of underground mining, would extend the life of the mine by 13 years, boost the workforce to 1,800 from 1,500 currently and increase Canada’s copper output by 15 percent. The existing open-pit operations are expected to run out in 2027.
  • Three contractors engaged in preliminary work on the block cave project were trapped by a tunnel collapse last summer for 60 hours before being rescued unharmed.
  • The North Coast Transmission Line is to be 450 kilometres long, running from Prince George to Terrace and north to the Golden Triangle mining region. By increasing power supply to the Northwest region, it is expected to enable $10 billion in new economic activity.
  • BC Hydro has secured a $139.5-million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to help finance NCTL.
  • The Ksi Lisims LNG project is designed to export 12 billion tonnes of LNG annually and is expected to attract $30 billion including construction the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, running 800 km from near Chetwynd to the coast.
  • Ksi Lisims promises to produce greenhouse-gas emissions 94% below the global average among liquefaction plants, largely due to its use of renewable electric power.
  • The B.C. government has its own list of 18 priority projects, which includes all four federally designated projects. Collectively, the projects have budgets worth more than $200 billion, roughly two-thirds the province’s annual GDP.

Sources: Government of Canada, Government of B.C., LNG Canada, Newmont Mining, BC Hydro, Ksi Lisims LNG, CBC, BC Energy Regulator

Michael McCullough

Michael McCullough

Michael is a financial journalist based in the Cowichan Valley. He's a former managing editor of Canadian Business and editorial director of Canada Wide Media, BCBusiness's publisher. In 2024, he co-authored Personal Finance for Canadians for Dummies, 7th Edition (Wiley, 2024).