Preface

British Columbia and Canada are partners in a period of great consequence for our country. The world is changing rapidly. In response, we are focused on what we can control: building an affordable, competitive, sustainable and independent Canadian economy. Together, we are working to build our strength at home and expand our export markets abroad. To that end, we must diversify our economies, strengthen our trade relationships and deliver opportunities to every region of the country.

British Columbia brings significant assets to this work. It is Canada’s Pacific gateway – Canada’s access to the fastest growing markets. B.C. has world class ports, established trade corridors, a diversified and resilient economy, a highly educated and skilled workforce, and one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world. Canada and British Columbia are committed to building on B.C.’s strengths to create shared and lasting prosperity that respects the rights of First Nations and makes them full partners, while driving economic development and protecting our environment.

Both governments share a fundamental belief that this is the moment to leverage our domestic advantages to build a stronger Canada. To that end, British Columbia and Canada agree to pursue a series of actions that grow the B.C. and Canadian economies, fund public services that all Canadians rely on, and diversify our trade relationships.

Objectives

• British Columbia and Canada will collaboratively advance shared priorities, including in the context of British Columbia’s Look West strategy, as a framework for joint action on economic security, trade diversification, to create good jobs and strengthen the economic security and prosperity of B.C. and Canada.
• Canada and British Columbia commit to pursuing economic growth in a way that aligns with Canadian values: through meaningful First Nations participation and ownership in projects; through pursuing projects, as well as protecting private property rights throughout British Columbia, sustainably and deploying low-carbon solutions with best-in-class technology; and by ensuring that British Columbian and Canadian workers are provided with training opportunities in partnership with organised labour.
• Both governments have and will continue to take concrete steps to accelerate review, permitting, and delivery of critical infrastructure in clean electricity and energy, critical mineral development, and secure supply chains, with joint timelines for each project identified under the agreement.
• Both Parties reaffirm the existing impact assessment agreement between Canada and British Columbia, to provide for timely and predictable review processes that give proponents and First Nations partners clear predictable timelines.

Implementation Committee

• Canada and British Columbia will appoint an Implementation Committee responsible for delivering on agreed outcomes.
• Canada and B.C. commit to work together on the initiatives outlined in this Agreement according to the schedule outlined in Annex A.
• The Implementation Committee will ensure that the commitments set out in the agreement are actively managed, monitored, and translated into measurable progress.
• This committee will also serve as a central forum for coordination, troubleshooting, and ongoing dialogue, helping both Parties stay aligned as work progresses.

Northwest Critical Mineral and Conservation Corridor

Northwest British Columbia represents one of Canada’s greatest untapped opportunities. It is a region rich with world-class critical mineral deposits and irreplaceable ecosystems. Canada and British Columbia commit to responsibly developing this region’s economic potential in partnership with First Nations, while protecting its exceptional natural value. The following commitments reflect British Columbia and Canada’s shared commitment to strengthen Canada’s position in global critical mineral supply chains:

• Red Chris Mine Extension: Canada will provide a federal contribution to support this innovative extension to a significant mining project.
• Other Major Projects: The Implementation Committee of this Agreement will work to identify, support and accelerate other major opportunities in the Northwest region which can meaningfully increase economic prosperity and strengthen Canada’s critical mineral supply chains.
• Partnership with First Nations: Canada and British Columbia recognise that reconciliation strengthens the country and First Nations partnership is the foundation of responsible resource development in B.C. In support of this principle, Canada and British Columbia commit to continuing to engage with First Nations partners in the region, including through existing tripartite forums, to build shared prosperity for everyone. Canada will determine mechanisms to participate in and contribute to the Tahltan Foundation Agreement currently under negotiation between British Columbia and Tahltan, including through separate agreements or arrangements.
• Northwest Protected Areas: British Columbia’s Northwest holds significant economic opportunity, exceptional natural and cultural value, and is home to many First Nations. To strike an appropriate balance between development and conservation, and in a manner consistent with Canada’s 30x30 commitments, Canada and B.C. commit to undertake the development of a strategy to provide financial support for conservation initiatives in the Northwest.

Trade-Exposed Industries

British Columbia’s resource and manufacturing industries are facing challenges from trade and supply chain disruption. The following commitments reflect both Parties’ recognition of the importance of sustaining the competitiveness of these sectors.

• Steel Manufacturing: British Columbia’s steel manufacturing industry occupies a distinct position in Canada. Geographically isolated from primary steel mills in Eastern Canada, B.C. manufacturers face compounding disadvantages: escalating input costs, limited local supply and a deteriorating tariff environment for their finished products. Canada and British Columbia commit to developing targeted trade and competitiveness measures to address these structural challenges, including consideration of regional mill capacity, support for local production capacity for construction and infrastructure steel products, particularly reinforcing bar (rebar), and a federal rail transportation subsidy to reduce the logistical cost penalty B.C. manufacturers bear relative to their eastern counterparts.
• Softwood Lumber: Canada and British Columbia recognise that British Columbia’s forest sector is a cornerstone of the Canadian economy and the lifeblood of dozens of B.C. communities. It is also a sector facing sustained pressures from trade actions, rising costs, fibre supply constraints and the need to modernise operations that in some cases have not kept pace with a changing industry and changing forests. Canada and British Columbia commit to concrete and practical measures to stabilise, transform and strengthen the sector. That work will include measures to modernise operations, support simplified and efficient access to fibre, attract investment, expand the use of wood in construction, grow value-added production, and diversify export markets, while ensuring environmental sustainability and responsible forest stewardship. This work will be carried out based broadly on the objectives of the Final Report of the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force, and Canada’s Action Plan to Transform Canada’s Forest Sector.

Ports, Transportation, and Security

B.C. is Canada’s Pacific Gateway: the essential link between the Canadian economy and the fastest growing markets in the world. Port capacity, road and rail connections and goods movement corridors are key to growing exports efficiently and at scale. As a coastal Province, maritime security is essential to Canada’s economic future. The following commitments represent a plan to revitalise B.C.’s ports and throughways and to enhance Canada’s maritime security through a robust defence strategy.

• Port of Vancouver – Roberts Bank Corridor: The Port of Vancouver is the largest on Canada’s west coast and a critical node in the national supply chain and Canada’s access to Asian markets. It’s capacity to serve Canadian exporters depends on the infrastructure that surrounds it. Canada and British Columbia commit to working with the port authority, proponents, and First Nations to make collaborative investments in the Lower Mainland logistical network, including infrastructure improvements for the Port of Vancouver, Roberts Bank Terminal, George Massey Tunnel Replacement (elaborated in next section), rail links and associated development at the Port of Vancouver.
• Deep-Water Ports: British Columbia’s deep-water ports are among Canada’s most strategically valuable and least developed trade assets. The Port of Prince Rupert and the Port of Stewart offer direct trans-pacific access and shorter sailing distances to Asian markets than any other North American port and hold the potential to serve as export terminals for critical minerals and other resources. Canada and British Columbia commit to working with proponents, port authorities and First Nations to identify and advance development opportunities to maximise these ports’ strategic potential.
• Maritime Shipbuilding and Recycling: Canada commits to engaging with B.C. regarding federal vessel programs, including potential shipbuilding, servicing and recycling locations, on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, in a manner consistent with federal procurement requirements and operational considerations.

George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project

The Parties agree to engage in discussion on direct or indirect financial support to the Massey Tunnel Replacement Project to ensure the efficient flow of goods. This could involve low-cost financing models or credit facilities in addition to direct financial support. Canada commits to supporting up to one-third of capital costs, to a maximum of $3 billion.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

British Columbia has world class natural gas reserves and liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets. As Europe and Asia accelerate their search for reliable sources of energy from stable jurisdictions, Canadian LNG has a window to establish itself as a trusted, long-term supplier – and with the lowest carbon emissions of any LNG in the world. Beyond providing the revenues needed to pay for public services, B.C.’s LNG sector represents a significant opportunity for First Nations’ economic ownership and partnership. Canada and British Columbia are committed to ensuring that the benefits of LNG development flow to the communities and Nations whose territories these projects occupy, along with all Canadians.

• Supporting B.C.’s LNG Exports: Canada and British Columbia will work with proponents, communities, and First Nations to support the permitting, financing and construction of LNG export capacity in B.C. The Parties recognise that regulatory certainty, timely decision making and coordinated federal-provincial action are pre-requisites for investment confidence in the sector. Priority projects under this commitment include:
  • LNG Canada (LNGC) Phase 2 – expanding Canada’s first major LNG export facility will secure the largest private investment in Canadian history and cement B.C.’s position as a Pacific LNG exporter.
  • Ksi Lisims LNG & Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) – a First Nations led project that represents a model for how LNG development and reconciliation can advance together.
  • Cedar LNG – a First Nation-led floating LNG facility that is among the most advanced First Nation-owned energy projects in Canadian history.
  • Woodfibre LNG – a smaller scale facility in Squamish that contributes to B.C.’s LNG export diversity and supply chain development.
• Federal Role and Commitments: The Implementation Committee of this Agreement will be responsible for identifying and developing supports to facilitate projects moving to final investment decision and into construction. In addition, Canada commits to providing regulatory coordination, potential financing tools and trade advocacy needed to move these projects from approval to construction to operation. This includes aligning federal impact assessment and permitting timelines with project schedules, leveraging federal financial mechanisms to support First Nations equity participation and actively promoting Canadian LNG in international markets as the lowest emission LNG in the world.

Clean Electricity, Decarbonisation, and Environmental Commitments

British Columbia already has one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world because of decades of public investment in hydroelectric infrastructure and a provincial commitment to building a clean economy. Canada and British Columbia both see the value in extending that infrastructure to build the transmission capacity and generation needed to power the next generation of major projects, decarbonise B.C.’s industrial base and position Canada as a global leader in clean energy supply in line with the goal of net zero by 2050. The commitments in this section reflect both Parties’ recognition that the clean energy transition is an economic opportunity as much as an environmental imperative.

• North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL): The North Coast Transmission Line is foundational infrastructure for B.C.’s Northwest and for Canada’s critical mineral ambitions. In support of the Parties’ efforts to deliver clean energy to major projects of national interest in central and northwestern B.C., Canada and British Columbia will work to develop a comprehensive support package for each phase of the NCTL, enabling it to deliver clean power to communities and industrial customers in the northwest, while respecting First Nations’ rights and interests. This work will include consideration of intertie connections to Yukon, maximising opportunities for critical minerals development and clean energy export. Canada intends to extend the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit to support major high-voltage intra-provincial transmissions projects, on a national basis, complementing existing support for inter-provincial interties. Canada will provide significant financial support toward the total capital costs of Phases 1 and 2. This will be achieved through a combination of federal contributions, capital cost savings from access to low-cost financing, the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit, and First Nation equity supports. The Parties further agree to jointly develop significant funding supports at a similar proportion related to Phase 3 and to work with First Nations to support capacity and provide appropriate accommodations.
• Clean Electricity and Watershed Protection: British Columbia’s clean power is among the province’s most strategic assets. As industrial demand grows, maintaining and expanding generation is essential, as is protecting water as the foundation of B.C.’s economy, energy systems, major projects, health and well-being, wildlife, and climate resilience. Canada and B.C. commit to collaborating on:
  • the development of new clean power projects to ensure B.C. has the generation capacity needed for a sustainable, low-carbon economic future.
  • supporting growth in British Columbia’s emerging wind power sector, including wind turbine transport, and exploring the development of a wind turbine manufacturing sector in B.C., using Canadian steel.
  • watershed protection, including exploring a contribution to B.C.’s Watershed Security Fund through the Canada Water Agency.
• The Implementation Committee established under this Agreement will collaborate to develop and implement commitments relevant to the topics set out above.
• Additional Decarbonisation Projects: The Implementation Committee established under this Agreement will work to identify, support and accelerate other clean energy and emissions reductions opportunities, ensuring B.C.’s leadership in clean energy is maintained into the future.
• Flood Mitigation: The Parties agree to work together to negotiate a cost-shared investment for planning work and to support flood mitigation activities, including integrated infrastructure and ecological planning necessary to advance implementation-ready projects. In 2026-27, the Federal Government will provide up to $20 million for cost-shared planning and initial project management work, subject to the approval of projects and signing of an agreement. By building on completed and funded planning work, and informed by the planning committee recommendations, the Parties will seek to advance priority mitigation initiatives through future funding consideration and cost-share investments, to address the complex risks within the Sumas Prairie to protect people, critical national corridor infrastructure, energy, and food security.

Carbon Markets

The transition to a low carbon economy creates new categories of economic value – in protected forests, restored watersheds, clean energy systems and nature-based solutions that store carbon at scale. The commitments in this section reflect both Parties’ shared interest in developing the carbon market infrastructure needed to unlock that value and attract private sector investment in climate action.

• National Carbon Credit Framework: British Columbia and Canada will work with other provinces and territories to explore options for developing a National Carbon Credit Framework, including the use of credits generated through consumer sustainability choices, such as retrofits and EVs, and nature-based solutions.
• Carbon Pricing: British Columbia made significant and good-faith adjustments to align its carbon pricing system with the federal benchmark. As the federal government recalibrates that benchmark, Canada commits to working with B.C. to quantify the fiscal impact of the revised benchmark and to negotiating a funding agreement that fairly compensates B.C. accordingly.

Energy Development

Canada has signed a bilateral agreement with Alberta that, subject to certain conditions, supports new pipeline infrastructure to the B.C. coast. The federal government has the authority to approve and build pipelines across provincial boundaries. Canada and B.C. acknowledge that B.C. communities, coastlines and ecosystems bear the real and lasting consequences of any spill or incident, and as such B.C.’s role in hosting this proposed national interest project will be recognised, compensated and protected. This section contains commitments from both British Columbia and Canada in this regard.

• New Pipeline: British Columbia acknowledges Canada’s agreement with Alberta on a new trans-provincial pipeline, which is dependent on construction of the Pathways Carbon Capture and Sequestration project and the duty to consult First Nations. Although B.C. does not seek this project, it recognises its constitutional obligations and commits to acting in good faith to engage in the necessary routing and permitting discussions, within its jurisdiction, provided the following reciprocal commitments are met:
  1. Canada will maintain the federal North Coast tanker ban without alteration, suspension, or narrowing of scope.
  2. Canada commits to engaging in early, consistent and meaningful consultation with First Nations, in a manner that upholds Aboriginal and Treaty rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982, while advancing economic opportunities through options for First Nations’ ownership and partnerships. Canada commits to providing loan guarantee support for First Nations communities along the route to acquire equity in the new pipeline project.
  3. The Parties agree to an economic and revenue framework for British Columbia. To achieve this, Canada and B.C. will negotiate a legally binding framework, grounded in the principle that B.C. must share meaningfully in the economic upside of the project. Mechanisms to be discussed include:
     1. An annual royalty payment to British Columbia by the pipeline operator; and
     2. An environmental liability and emergency response fund held in trust accessible by B.C. and First Nations.
  4. Canada and B.C. commit to reciprocal assessment and permitting cooperation to ensure “one project one review” for projects that are within federal jurisdiction and assessed under the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.
• Existing Trans Mountain System: British Columbia recognises Canada’s interest in optimising the Trans Mountain Pipeline System to increase pipeline throughput from 890,000 barrels per day to 1,190,000 barrels per day, including the use of drag-reducing agents, and mainline optimisation. British Columbia commits to continued focus and support for the optimisation work, subject to discussion on the following:
  1. Federal commitments to support verified capital costs incurred by British Columbia or B.C. Crown Corporations.
  2. Renegotiation of Condition Five to ensure British Columbians receive a fair share of the additional fiscal and economic benefits from the Trans Mountain optimisation project.
• Coastal Protection: Canada commits to renewed investments into a world-leading costal spill response regime. Canada and B.C. also recognise the need to protect Canada’s whales and the Southern Resident Killer Whale habitat along the British Columbia coast, including through the Whales Initiative.

Skills Training and Talent Development

The projects and commitments in this agreement are only achievable if we have the workforce available to build and operate them. British Columbia is facing a significant skilled trades shortage just as demand is accelerating. Closing that gap requires coordinated federal and provincial action on training, childcare and labour standards.

• Skilled Trades: Building on significant federal and provincial investments in skilled trades training, Canada and British Columbia commit to strong and effective coordination for their respective investments to ensure B.C. has the workforce needed to deliver on major project commitments at speed and at scale. This coordination will include alignment through the Government of Canada’s Team Canada Strong initiative.
• Childcare Commitments: A strong, stable and ready workforce is essential to delivering on these commitments. To support labour force participation and skilled trades training and readiness, Canada and British Columbia commit to renegotiating the terms of the existing Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Canada-wide agreements to enable a stable and adequately resourced vision for the delivery of early learning and childcare in B.C. Canada and British Columbia will work to reach agreement on these terms through bilateral discussions led by the responsible ministers in each jurisdiction, including consideration for school-aged children.
• Unionised Labour: Many of the projects in this agreement will be built with public money and public support. Canada and B.C. commit to ensuring that public infrastructure spending under this agreement prioritises decent wages, safe workplaces, and meaningful trades training opportunities in partnership with organised labour.

Annex A: Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement Implementation Committee Timelines

The Implementation Committee established under this Agreement will collaboratively advance work in the agreed areas on the following timelines:

Immediate commitments:

• Financial support for the Red Chris Mine Extension
• Financial commitments related to the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project
• Financial support for the North Coast Transmission Line, Phases 1 and 2
• Determination of mechanisms for Canada to participate in and contribute to the Tahltan Foundation Agreement, including through separate agreements or arrangements

On or before December 1, 2026:

• Softwood Lumber
• Steel Manufacturing
• A compensation arrangement related to the updated industrial carbon pricing benchmark
• Renegotiation of existing revenue sharing related to the existing Trans Mountain Expansion
• Coastal Protection
• Financial commitments related to a potential new pipeline to Asian markets
• Renewed childcare commitments
• Northwest Protected Areas
• Detailed arrangements for the financial commitments related to the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project
• Detailed arrangements for the financial commitments related to the North Coast Transmission Line, Phases 1 and 2
• Supporting B.C.’s LNG Exports
• Flood Mitigation

On or before June 1, 2027:

• Deep Water Ports
• Phase 3 of the North Coast Transmission Line
• Clean Electricity and Watershed Protection
• Shipbuilding and Recycling

Related product

• Canada and British Columbia strike new cooperative prosperity partnership to build a stronger, more sustainable economy