Ottawa commits to working with Nova Scotia to develop Wind West offshore wind farms

HALIFAX – Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa is prepared to work with Nova Scotia to ramp up its ambitious plans for Canada’s first offshore wind farms.

The prime minister made the announcement Thursday in Edmonton, but the commitment came after he confirmed five major projects that were further in development would be considered first for fast-track approval.

Carney said Nova Scotia’s Wind West project was among five other projects that are still in the early stages. He said he had directed the new Major Projects Office to create business development teams to work with the provinces to make these  new projects a reality.

Premier Tim Houston applauded Carney’s move.

“We believe in his vision of Canada as an energy superpower and feel strongly that Nova Scotia can contribute much to reaching this goal,” Houston said Thursday in a statement. “Recognition of Wind West as a project of national interest is an important first step in the process.”

In June, Houston said the province’s plan to license enough offshore wind farms to produce five gigawatts of electricity would be increased eightfold to 40 gigawatts.

At the time, the premier said the province’s plan called for construction of enough turbines to supply 27 per cent of Canada’s total demand for electricity. And he stressed that Ottawa would have to contribute funds to help pay for electricity infrastructure that could supply power to the rest of Atlantic Canada and beyond.

The following month, the province announced that four offshore areas had been designated for offshore wind development. The areas include French Bank, Middle Bank and Sable Island Bank — all south of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore — and Sydney Bight, northeast of Cape Breton.

On Thursday, Houston talked about the potential for thousands of new jobs and economic development that could also benefit Ontario, Quebec and the rest of Atlantic Canada.

“Beyond the construction phase, it will provide long-term operations and maintenance contracts, modernize and enhance ports and marine infrastructure and unlock energy abundance for new industries across Canada,” he said.

Meanwhile, the federal government issued a statement saying Wind West “will set the scale, direction and trajectory” for Canada’s first foray into offshore wind energy industry.

“The Major Projects Office will advance Wind West … and provide the regulatory certainty that attracts private investment and sets a course for long-term wind resources development in the Maritime provinces.”

The statement from Ottawa also refers to an “Eastern Energy Partnership” that could include building more robust electricity lines through Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2025.