Chiefs criticize Indigenous advisory council for Bill C-5 projects after meeting with Carney
Part of the recently passed legislation allows the federal cabinet to deem projects to be of national interest and then exempt them from various laws in order to speed up approvals and construction. The co-ordination of potential projects to be considered on the national-interest list will be done by the major projects office, which will work closely with an Indigenous advisory council announced last month.
Both the office and the council are expected to be up and running by Labour Day, the Prime Minister's Office said. The council will be comprised of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representatives, as well as modern treaty and self-government delegates, to help ensure Indigenous perspectives and priorities are integrated at each stage, the PMO added.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who represents 49 First Nations in Northern Ontario, said he has not yet seen a mandate or terms of reference for the council, but he doesn't 'really have too much faith in' it.
'We've seen advisory committees before on other issues and in different ways,' he said. 'They can provide all the advice that they want, it doesn't necessarily mean that their advice will be heeded or actioned on.'
When asked what could give him faith, Mr. Fiddler said the government could amend Bill C-5 to explicitly include that First Nations will have to consent to major projects taking place in their territory.
Why First Nations are clashing with Ontario and Ottawa over bills aimed at speeding up megaprojects
The law has sparked worry from Indigenous leaders, who have said they are not against development but are concerned their treaty rights will be violated. The federal government has repeatedly said Indigenous people will be consulted at key stages.
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with First Nations leaders on Thursday after facing significant pushback from Indigenous leadership on how Bill C-5 was introduced and then sped through Parliament in under a month. At the meeting, Mr. Carney said projects under the legislation will be built with Indigenous communities.
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Chief Sheldon Sunshine also levelled heavy criticism at the proposed council. He called it a 'colonial construct' and said it will be used to 'manufacture consent on legislation and policies that affect all Indigenous people, including treaty nations.'
'A small group of hand-selected advisers cannot speak on behalf of hundreds of distinct nations with sovereign governance structures,' he said at a press conference after Thursday's meeting.
Chiefs gave the meeting mixed reviews. Overall, Mr. Fiddler described it as 'a bit of a gongshow,' citing a last-minute agenda and First Nations' support staff needing to watch online owing to capacity limits at the venue.
Mr. Carney committed to regional dialogues. Mr. Fiddler said he told Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty that he is willing to be flexible with the dates of a fall grand assembly to accommodate Mr. Carney's schedule.
Mr. Fiddler said he also told Ms. Gull-Masty that there needs to be a forum for youth to voice their concerns directly to government, after youth protesters from Nishnawbe Aski Nation were not allowed into the meeting – a move he called 'very concerning.'
'When we talk about lands and resources and waters, we're talking about our young people and their future,' he said.
Mr. Fiddler added he expects to see more protests. His First Nation is monitoring a court challenge filed by nine Ontario First Nations on Bill C-5 and Ontario's similar Bill 5, he said.
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, took a more positive view of the meeting, saying it was a 'good first step.' She reiterated her call to have Mr. Carney meet with First Nations annually, on top of the regional discussions.
'He stayed in the room with those chiefs. He listened to them. He talked to them one-on-one, plus as a group, took lots of questions,' she said, adding she thinks he gained some friends from across the country.
She noted the relationship Mr. Carney's government has with First Nations will be determined by actions it takes this fall. She has called on the Prime Minister to address the First Nations infrastructure deficit, and to ensure there are no budget cuts to First Nations, among other asks.
Thursday's meeting was the first of three to be held between the Prime Minister and First Nations leaders on Bill C-5. Mr. Carney is set to meet with the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee next week in Inuvik, N.W.T., according to the PMO, and with Métis leadership later on in the summer.
Meanwhile, Mr. Carney is also scheduled to meet with Canada's premiers next week to discuss next steps.
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