Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford shake hands after a signing ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 18, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
Ottawa and Ontario have signed a cooperation agreement aiming to speed up approval timelines and reduce regulatory burden on major projects, including the road to the Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario.
The agreement introduces a “one project, one review” approach to major projects in Ontario, meant to streamline the environmental impact assessment process for major projects that require both a federal and provincial assessment, Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a Dec. 18 press conference alongside Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
