EDMONTON — Alberta is proposing rule changes that would see Premier Danielle Smith’s government become more involved in kick-starting potential big-ticket industrial projects.

A bill introduced Tuesday by Energy Minister Brian Jean would have some cabinet members be the first to set eyes on potential projects, with the goal of assisting private industry to improve their applications.

From there, a committee of civil servants would get involved for additional reviews. Cabinet would then give an order to start a four-month clock for regulatory bodies to do own assessments and issue permits.

Jean said slow regulatory schemes risk investment and that a fast-tracked process would send a clear message: the province is keen to build.

“The process to approve projects in Alberta and Canada, quite frankly, is very cumbersome and riddled with roadblocks and unnecessary delays,” Jean told reporters before introducing the legislation.

“This accelerated approval process is the next step to spur development across all sectors.”

In order to qualify for the new system, Jean said projects would need to come with $250 million in minimum capital spending and have completed some environmental assessments and consultations with First Nations.

Additional requirements could be determined later.

Jean said just because a government order is issued wouldn’t mean shovels are guaranteed to break ground. Provincial regulators would still have the power to deny permits if more work is required by an applicant.

“The Alberta Energy Regulator is the regulator. We are politicians. They make the decisions, and we support them with policy,” Jean said.

The accelerated system also wouldn’t discount or diminish Alberta’s duty to consult with First Nations, Jean said.

The regulator believes a four-month deadline is achievable, he said.

“The process is now holding up the process,” he said.

“We need to have a culture of change, and we’re hoping that this is not just for (the) $250-million projects.”

On its website, the Alberta Energy Regulator lists targets for assessing applications. The time frames vary depending on the type of project or permit, from one week to more than half a year.

Jean said he doesn’t think the new time window for regulators to do reviews is rushed. He said major projects in the United States can be given the OK in less than a month.

“That’s our competition,” he said.

Additional details and rules underpinning the bill are being finalized, and the new system could be in place before the end of the year.

As many major energy or industrial projects require both provincial and federal approval, Alberta’s new framework only applies to what it controls. Federal regulators aren’t bound by Alberta’s time frame.

Alberta’s proposed process is similar to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s major projects office, which reviews and approves within two years projects deemed in the national interest.

Jean said two years is too slow and that federal policy has cost Canada billions of dollars in potential investment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2026.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press