The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office started a public feedback period on March 10, 2026, for a province-wide plan to speed up the approval process for major projects, including developments in Prince Rupert. This new system would allow certain projects that are important to British Columbia to finish their environmental reviews much faster than they do now.
Under the proposal, the review process for these major projects would be cut down to 20 months. The province says this is up to 60 per cent faster than the standard timeline, which usually takes between three and five years to complete.
To qualify for this faster track, a project must be designated under the Infrastructure Projects Act. This law was passed in 2025 to help build critical provincial infrastructure and other large-scale projects more quickly.
While the province wants to make the process faster, projects must still follow rules for working with local Indigenous Nations and align with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Companies that want to use the faster process will have to show they have done advanced research and are ready to move forward.
Residents can share their thoughts on the new rules through an online survey until April 13, 2026. This feedback will help the government decide how to define which projects are in the public interest and how the faster system will work.
