Smart approvals, stronger outcomes – CIM Magazine
September 08, 2025
Why Canadian project delays are not about red tape—but the systems behind it
Canada’s resource and industrial ambitions are bold—but our ability to deliver on them is being undercut by something less visible: a broken approach to project approvals.
Whether it’s critical mineral extraction, carbon capture or clean energy infrastructure, the demand for project execution has never been higher. But from a management perspective, the real risk is not regulatory burden—it’s the outdated systems we’re relying on to coordinate decisions, gather feedback and move projects forward.
Canada has some of the longest project approval timelines in the G7. The World Bank reports that our processes often take nearly twice as long as those in the United States or Australia. For leaders managing major capital projects or overseeing portfolios of development assets, this delay erodes value, investor confidence and stakeholder trust.
Read More: https://magazine.cim.org/en/voices/smart-approvals-stronger-outcomes-en/
