Dawn Farrell, who oversaw the expansion of the

Trans Mountain oil pipeline

, has been named by Prime Minister

Mark Carney

to lead the government’s effort to fast-track large new infrastructure projects in Canada.

Farrell was chief executive of Trans Mountain Corp. from 2022 to 2024, and currently chairs its board. Previously, she led TransAlta Corp., a power producer in Alberta, and held a senior role at BC Hydro.

Carney announced the appointment Friday as part of the launch of the Major Projects Office, a new entity meant to speed up government approvals and get shovels in the ground within two years of an application.

The office’s headquarters will be in Calgary, Carney’s office said in a news release, and it will focus on “accelerating regulatory approval processes” and “helping to structure and co-ordinate financing of these projects as needed.” It will also have an Indigenous Advisory Council to be named in September.

The government passed legislation earlier this year that allows it to designate “nation-building” projects that qualify for the expedited approval process. No projects have been named yet, but Carney has indicated that port expansions are likely to be among the first batch and could be announced in the next two weeks.

The push to build new infrastructure is part of Carney’s strategy to respond to United States President Donald Trump’s trade protectionism, given Canada’s heavy reliance on exports to its southern neighbour.

Projects that enhance Canada’s economic security and help diversify its trading partners will be prioritized, Carney has said. The legislation also puts emphasis on proposals that contribute to lower carbon emissions and advance the interests of Indigenous people.

Bloomberg.com