Steven MacKinnon

OTTAWA — Two days after Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon unveiled his omnibus bid to expand his government’s efforts to streamline and accelerate the approval of major projects, MPs are set to get their first chance to go on the parliamentary record with their initial thoughts — and concerns — about what Prime Minister Carney has framed as “one of, if not the most consequential” bills to hit the House of Commons this session. The Building Canada Strong Act would expand the government’s power to fast track projects deemed to be in the “national interest,” and “would let Ottawa issue a single conditions document instead of separate permits from multiple departments, letting projects bypass individual reviews under existing laws. …In a rare move, the government has signalled that it wants to send the bill to a special legislative committee for further review, which could spark concern from opposition member by effectively preempting any proposal to divvy it up.

• In related coverage: Five things to know about the Liberals’ new Building Canada Strong Act