They also called for better tax treatment for nationally significant projects, affordable and reliable electricity, and partnerships with Indigenous peoples. But none answers the question that matters most to an investor, an Indigenous partner, a utility or a project developer. Those years include route selection, engineering, environmental baseline work, commercial agreements, financing, application preparation, Indigenous engagement, community relations and repeated redesign. It would separate regulatory delay from commercial delay, political delay, proponent delay and consultation that began too late. It would also stop governments from declaring success because one legislated clock was met while the project itself remained stalled.