{"id":79577,"date":"2026-03-11T07:44:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T14:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/?post_type=engagement&#038;p=79577"},"modified":"2026-04-14T08:02:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:02:38","slug":"infrastructure","status":"publish","type":"engagement","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/infrastructure\/","title":{"rendered":"Infrastructure Projects Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group engage-banner has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fbda80\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top\">Engagement was open July 7, 2025 to April 13, 2026<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#a3957d\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-79601\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-scaled.jpeg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-1200x800.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-container\"><div class=\"engagement-page\"><div class=\"engagement-content-wrapper\"><h1 class=\"engagement-title-banner \" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/themes\/bcgov-engagement\/dist\/images\/blue-curve-bg.svg)\">Infrastructure Projects Act<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-content\"><bcgov-breadcrumb>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\">Home<\/a>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/\">Engagement Opportunities<\/a> \n                  <span>\n        Infrastructure Projects Act\n  <\/span>\n  <div style=\"display: flex\" slot=\"breadcrumb-extra\">\n      <\/div>\n  <\/bcgov-breadcrumb>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On this page:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#summary\" title=\"\">Building infrastructure faster<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#process\" title=\"\">Engagement phases<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#contribution\" title=\"\">How your contribution makes a difference<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"remove-bottom-margin\"><strong>Dates:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Phase 1: July 7 to September 30, 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phase 2: July 21 to November 28, 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phase 3: March 10 to April 13, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who: <\/strong>Ministry of Infrastructure<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What: <\/strong>Policy frameworks for provincial capital and significant infrastructure projects&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong> Province-wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why:<\/strong> To remove delays in the infrastructure permitting processes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How: <\/strong>Online surveys, written submissions, advisory groups, one-on-one meetings<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-engagement_category wp-block-post-terms\"><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__prefix\"><strong>Category: <\/strong><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/economy-and-jobs\/\" rel=\"tag\">Economy and Jobs<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/housing-and-infrastructure\/\" rel=\"tag\">Housing and Infrastructure<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/natural-resources\/\" rel=\"tag\">Natural Resources<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><span role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"engagement-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/Infrastructure-shovels-scaled.jpg);background-position:57.99999999999999% 35%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary\">Building infrastructure faster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Infrastructure Projects Act (the Act) is a new law to support faster delivery of major infrastructure projects in B.C. You can read more about the Act in our <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gov.bc.ca\/releases\/2025PREM0018-000403\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This law gives the Province new tools to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Deliver important services faster<\/strong>\u202fby reducing delays in how projects are approved<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make the approval process quicker<\/strong>. This means important public projects, like schools or hospitals, can start sooner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Help the economy grow<\/strong> during uncertain times by speeding up investment projects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These changes will not lower the quality of projects or change safety rules. They will still follow all rules for protecting the environment and working with First Nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Projects that could qualify include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hospitals and cancer centres<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long-term care homes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Schools and post-secondary facilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student housing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other provincially significant infrastructure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gov.bc.ca\/releases\/2025INF0028-000656\" title=\"\">July 10 Information Bulletin<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"process\">Engagement phases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 1: Provincially Significant Projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>July 7 to September 30, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During this engagement phase, the public could share ideas about how Provincially Significant projects are chosen. Additionally, respondents could give feedback on the tools in the Act, which apply to both Provincial Capital and Provincially Significant projects. Between July and September 2025, the province also held group discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 2: Qualified Professionals Reliance Model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>July 21 to November 28, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In B.C., many laws and policies refer to professionals who are qualified to perform certain types of work. These professionals can provide expert advice, conduct assessments, and confirm if certain rules or technical requirements are met. They are typically registered with regulatory bodies under the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/18047#section55.1\">Professional Governance Act<\/a>&nbsp;(such as engineers, biologists, geoscientists). They can also be accredited practitioners whose qualifications are recognized by the Province or professional bodies (such as archeologists).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An infrastructure project designated under the Infrastructure Projects Act can access up to six tools to help streamline decisions. One of these tools is the proposed&nbsp;<strong>Qualified Professional (QP) Reliance Model<\/strong>. It is designed to allow qualified individuals with specific professional experience to certify that the standards required to issue a permit have been met. For permits that are determined to be appropriate for this model, this new approach will speed up provincial permitting decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about who qualified professionals are, the Qualified Professional Reliance Model, and what&#8217;s being proposed for feedback on <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/infrastructure\/proposed-qualified-professional-reliance-model\/\" title=\"\">the engage site<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 3: Expedited Environmental Assessment Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>March 10 to April 13, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) is leading the engagement on a faster environmental assessment process for major projects designated under the Infrastructure Projects Act as provincially significant, or designated provincial capital projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more, visit the Environmental Assessment Office\u2019s engagement page on <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.eao.gov.bc.ca\/xEA\">expedited environmental assessments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"contribution\">How your contribution makes a difference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your contributions will help inform the development of policy frameworks that shape the future of our province, through facilitating expedited delivery of urgently needed projects and high-quality, generational investments for British Columbians.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"related-engagements\">\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Angling, Hunting, and Trapping. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Sector, Recreation and Tourism, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Angling, Hunting, and Trapping                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Recreation and Tourism<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2022\/12\/52020102588_38f5f124ed_o.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Legal Professions Regulatory Reform. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Law and Public Safety. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Legal Professions Regulatory Reform                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/02\/LegalProfessions2.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: AI Adoption in B.C.. Categories: Economy and Jobs. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/ai-adoption-in-bc\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        AI Adoption in B.C.                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/ai-adoption-in-bc\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/AI-Adoption-banner.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: The Future of WorkBC. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Education and Training, Families and Residents. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/the-future-of-workbc\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        The Future of WorkBC                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Education and Training<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/the-future-of-workbc\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/05\/Employment-Services-Banner-sm-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Labour Relations Code Review 2024. Categories: Economy and Jobs. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/labour-relations-code-review\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Labour Relations Code Review 2024                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/labour-relations-code-review\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2024\/02\/images-for-LRC-engagement-1.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Accessible B.C. Act Standards. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Families and Residents. Status: Closed with results.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed with results\">\n                                            Closed with results                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/accessible-bc-standards\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Accessible B.C. Act Standards                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/accessible-bc-standards\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2024\/05\/HERO-IMAGE-Accessibility-BC-Act-Engagement-V2.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":79601,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","engagement_category":[252,482,272],"engagement_region":[192],"engagement_status":[52],"engagement_pin_group":[],"class_list":["post-79577","engagement","type-engagement","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","engagement_category-economy-and-jobs","engagement_category-housing-and-infrastructure","engagement_category-natural-resources","engagement_region-province-wide","engagement_status-closed"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"pinned_engagement_toggle":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/79577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/engagement"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/79577\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84331,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/79577\/revisions\/84331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"engagement_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_category?post=79577"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_region?post=79577"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_status?post=79577"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_pin_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_pin_group?post=79577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}