Bill 30: Alberta’s Expedited 120-Day Approvals Act, 2026 – What It Means For The Energy Sector

On April 14, 2026, the Government of Alberta (Alberta) introduced Bill 30, the Expedited 120-Day Approvals Act, 2026 (Bill 30). If enacted, Bill 30 will establish a mechanism for proposed projects designated as “qualified projects” to be eligible for an expedited regulatory timeline. This proposed legislation is intended to shorten approval timelines while preserving substantive decision-making processes already in place.

Alberta’s introduction of Bill 30 builds on the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening Canada’s competitiveness in the energy sector, which we have previously posted on here. Bill 30 also aligns with the federal government’s efforts to advance major projects deemed to be in Canada’s national interest, including through the federal Major Projects Office established in September 2025. Our blog on the MOU can be found here. This post outlines the key features of the proposed legislation and considers its potential implications for proponents, investors, and stakeholders across Alberta’s energy, mining and industrial sectors.

Framework for “Qualified Projects”

To be designated a “qualified project”, a proponent must apply to the Minister of Energy and Resources (Minister), providing detailed information about the proposed project, including its scope, anticipated timeline, capital investment, required regulatory approvals, and the status of environmental assessments and Indigenous consultation.

The Minister may either deny the application or recommend designation to the Lieutenant Governor in Council. If the Minister recommends the proposed project, it will be deemed a qualified project by way of order in council by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Any approval deeming the proposed project a qualified project must set out the approvals required for the qualified project and, for each approval set out, the date by which the decision respecting the approval must be made.

In determining whether to designate a project, the Minister may consider any factor it considers relevant, including the following enumerated in Bill 30:

• whether the project strategically aligns with Alberta’s priorities, goals and outcomes;
• whether the project is of strategic importance to Alberta’s economy through increased investment, jobs, government revenues and economic activity;
• whether the benefits of the project outweigh any residual impacts;
• whether the minimum capital spending threshold for the project exceeds $250 million; and
• whether the project advances national and provincial security by recognizing provincial autonomy and respecting Alberta’s areas of provincial jurisdiction.

Alberta has suggested that a project coordination review team, comprised of members from the Executive Council, would assess applications and make recommendations within a prescribed timeframe. Following a recommendation for designation, provincial cabinet would then decide whether the project should be designated.

The 120-Day Approval Timeline

If the Lieutenant Governor in Council issues an order designating the proposed project as a qualified project, such order must set out the required approvals and the statutory decision-making timeline. A decision with respect to the approvals for a designated project must be made within the lesser of:

• 120 business days from publication of the designation order; and
• the time frame for making the decision set out in the prescribed enactment that requires the approval.

The designation decision is not a determination on the merits of the qualified project itself, but rather a gatekeeping function to determine whether the project should proceed under an accelerated timeline.

Indigenous Consultation and Environmental Review

Alberta has stated that nothing in the proposed legislation alters or limits the Crown’s duty to consult with Indigenous Peoples or their constitutionally protected Section 35 rights. If a project is approved for qualified designation and proceeds through the 120-day permitting process, consultation may still be ongoing when the 120-day clock begins.

Bill 30 expressly contemplates that within an application, proponents must provide evidence of the environmental impact assessment’s status and Indigenous consultation efforts. Indigenous consultation and environmental assessment processes must be sufficiently advanced before a project can enter the expedited stream.

While Bill 30 is framed as an effort to accelerate regulatory timelines, its practical effect may be to shift risk and effort to the front end of project development. Bill 30 places increased importance on whether a project is sufficiently advanced, particularly from an environmental and Indigenous consultation perspective, before it can even be considered for expedited designation. In this respect, Bill 30 may not simply shorten timelines; it may reorder them, requiring more rigorous early-stage planning and coordination.

Built-In Safeguards and Flexibility

Although Bill 30 is designed to accelerate approvals, it includes a mechanism to preserve flexibility when circumstances change. Under Section 6, the Minister may recommend rescinding a project’s “qualified project” designation if extraordinary circumstances arise that materially affect the project, and the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, rescind the designation. This provides an important safeguard, allowing Alberta to respond to unforeseen developments through a transparent process, while also introducing some uncertainty for proponents, who may lose expedited status if material circumstances change.

Key Implications

If enacted and implemented effectively, Bill 30 could have several notable implications for proponents in the energy, mining and industrial sectors, including improved certainty and predictability regarding regulatory timelines.

However, it remains to be seen how the 120-day decision timeline will operate for major projects requiring public hearings, where schedules must abide by rules of procedural fairness. A plain-language reading of Section 5(a) suggests that the decision clock runs from publication of the designation order, which is consistent with the legislation’s objective of expediting regulatory outcomes. Achieving the intended timelines will require multi-party coordination: proponents will need to have complete application materials ready for submission, and regulators will need to be positioned to schedule hearings and issue decisions on an expedited basis, while ensuring a balance with Indigenous consultation rights, stakeholder engagement and rules of procedural fairness.

Looking Ahead

Bill 30 has passed first reading and must proceed through the legislative process before becoming law. If enacted, Alberta has indicated that implementing regulations will follow later in 2026 or early 2027.

We’re Here to Help

Our Energy team continues to monitor developments relating to Bill 30 and the evolving regulatory landscape in Alberta. We regularly advise proponents, lenders, and stakeholders on project development, regulatory approvals, and Indigenous consultation strategies. We are well positioned to support clients in navigating these early-stage requirements, positioning projects for applications for “qualified project” designation, and managing the risks associated with accelerated approval timelines before regulators and with stakeholders. If you have questions about how Bill 30 may impact your projects or investment strategy, please contact a member of our team.

To view the original article click here

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.