TORONTO — The major projects in Canada that get built fastest are those that have buy-in from affected communities, Ehren Cory, the head of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, said at The Logic Summit on Monday as he sought to challenge the idea that consultations can clash with a need for speed.

“I have a contractor friend who has this expression: I can do it pretty cheap, but it’s going to cost you,” said Cory, CEO of the Crown corporation that co-invests in revenue-generating infrastructure projects that the public or private sector might not otherwise be able to finance on their own. “Speed does not mean rush or ignore,” added Cory, who was speaking about both Indigenous communities in Canada and environmental concerns. “Speed means build alignment.”

The Liberal government was re-elected this year after campaigning on a promise to streamline and accelerate the development of major infrastructure projects across Canada as a way to help shore up the domestic economy amid the ongoing trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the first batch of projects for the newly established Major Projects Office to consider. They are all late in the planning stages, if not already underway. Two already had financial backing from the infrastructure bank: a new container terminal in Contrecoeur, Que., that is part of the Port of Montreal, and a new small modular nuclear reactor in Darlington, Ont. The next tranche is expected Nov. 16.

Many Indigenous leaders have warned Carney that they will not let his ambitions steamroll consultations with their communities. Cory noted how many successful projects begin with Indigenous communities. The benefit of that approach is that “you don’t have to get Indigenous buy-in,” he said. “They are their projects.” Other successful projects are aimed at economic growth and supporting the transition to low-carbon sources of energy. “If they’re doing those three things, they’re going to go fast.”

As The Logic reported last month, many First Nations are being flooded with requests for consultations on proposed infrastructure and resource development—and expect those asks to increase alongside the push from the federal and provincial governments.

Bill Lomax, president and CEO of the First Nations Bank of Canada, said there is fear among some Indigenous communities that they will be run “roughshod” over these projects. At the same time, he said many recognize that success for Canada can bring success to them, too.

There is likely a need for resources that would let First Nations “dig in and move quickly through the consultation process,” said Lomax, who is a member of the Gitxsan Nation in northwestern British Columbia.

Annesley Wallace, president and CEO, Healthcare of the Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), said she is hoping Tuesday’s federal budget gives everyone investing in infrastructure projects a “roadmap” for how to get there. “We all need to be able to see that path forward so that we know how we can help do our part to achieve success,” she said.

Read more from The Logic Summit 2025 here.