How SPICE Selects Projects for Research

Project Selection Criteria

To ensure meaningful and fair comparisons, we assess projects against the same documented criteria before examining their performance.

• Canadian relevance and significance. We focus primarily on projects in Canada, as well as cross-border projects with substantial Canadian ownership, funding, delivery responsibility, or impact. Projects will normally have a value of at least CAD $1 billion in constant dollars. Projects below this threshold may be considered where they demonstrate documented strategic importance and exceptional complexity or consequences.

• Relevant lifecycle and study period. Projects are eligible if they involve substantial activity or have significant impacts during the defined study period. Completed, ongoing, cancelled, suspended, and projects stopped prior to construction may all qualify. Selection is not limited to projects that are difficult, controversial, or unsuccessful.

• Coherent project boundary. Each case must have a clearly identifiable scope, decision-to-build baseline, governance structure, contractual framework, intended benefits, and measurable outcomes. Program elements will be combined or separated only according to documented criteria.

• Verifiable evidence. Each case requires an authoritative source establishing its identity and baseline, along with sufficient traceable evidence to examine both outcomes and the mechanisms that contributed to them. Priority is given to official inquiries, audits, legislative and regulatory records, court proceedings, business cases, procurement records, and peer-reviewed research. Media reports and promotional materials may identify potential cases but are not sufficient evidence on their own.

• Comparative research value. Across the portfolio, we seek meaningful variation in region, sector, ownership and delivery model, project period, and outcomes. The portfolio will include successful, mixed, difficult, and counterexample cases, allowing us to test patterns and identify transferable lessons rather than create a simple ranking of projects.

• Deep-case fit and feasibility. Projects selected for intensive case study must be both theoretically and practically relevant to broader national patterns. They must also offer sufficient access to documentation and diverse perspectives, while remaining feasible within applicable ethics, data governance, and research requirements.