Kelly McParland: Carney and Ford race to build as anti-development forces coalesce

National Post

24-06-2025

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Hard to argue with that, but argument, of course, there has been. The act 'is a case study in how not to engage with Indigenous nations,' complained Chief Lance Haymond of the Kebaowek First Nation. It's 'a naked power grab that tramples our democracy,' according to the Toronto Star. 'Not even Harper tried to rev up a bulldozer like this,' asserted Elizabeth May, Parliament's sole Green member, who's always keen to get in a shot at her much-more successful political rival.
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The bill was approved with the support of the Opposition Conservatives, which was enough in itself to upset 'progressives.' Added to Carney's wholesale adoption of other Conservative aims — a cancelled carbon tax, tax cuts, tougher borders, immigration reform — it threatened an outbreak of partisan dysphoria among the part of the populace that's accustomed to ensuring nothing constructive ever gets done. May, for one, fears the collaboration might continue, as if constructive co-operation between two parties that are supported by 85 per cent of voters would be bad for the country.
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Unlike Ford, though, Carney appears not to be the apologizing type. He's more the 'let's get serious with our accusations' type. Responding to the outpouring of complaints, he noted that, 'Consultation, co-operation, engagement, participation is at the heart of C-5 and that is how you build a nation.' The bill not only aims to support Indigenous partnerships, 'but also to finance equity ownership in these nation-building projects for Indigenous peoples, Indigenous groups, Indigenous rights holders.'
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Right off the top, the bill states that, 'The government of Canada is committed to respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and the rights set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.'
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Clearly that isn't enough to convince 'progressives' who voted in the Liberals but don't trust them to keep their word even when it's written into legislation. You can't really blame them given how often the previous Liberal government broke its word, ignored the rules and bound itself to promises it showed no intention of keeping. Many of those same promise-breakers are now senior members of Carney's cabinet.
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Learning to deal with the country's large and firmly embedded barriers to progress is something Carney will have to master. Canada didn't get to this position of lethargy and blockage accidentally; it took the determined efforts of armies of professional adversaries and disputants over an extended period. A single bill, no matter how optimistically titled, isn't going to turn the tide against decades of obstructionism.
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The doubts of Native-Canadians arise from centuries of bad experiences with untrustworthy governments. Carney could have saved himself some trouble if he'd paused his sprint to a self-imposed legislative deadline to better address their concerns. As it was, he spent much of the news conference following the act's passage responding to pointed questions about those concerns and pledging to spend a good chunk of the summer meeting with Indigenous leaders to make up for the misstep.
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May's concerns about the dangers of co-operation aside, surveys suggest Carney and Ford remain in favour. Ford was recently rated as the country's most popular Conservative, ahead of seatless federal leader Pierre Poilievre. Popularity in politics is fleeting, however, and needs to be used wisely while it lasts. It appears they share an understanding of their situation, which would explain the sense of hurry in Ottawa and Toronto to get something done while they still have the chance.
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