Mark Carney meets with Indigenous leaders about controversial development law
'The economic value of these projects will be shared with First Nations as partners. You will help build the prosperity of your communities for generations to come,' Carney told First Nations chiefs at the Canadian Museum of History, while other delegates tuned in virtually.
'By moving forward together, we can write a new chapter … in the relationship between the government of Canada and First Nations. This isn't an aspiration. It is the law,' the prime minister said.
'In many respects, this is the first federal legislation to put Indigenous economic growth at its core.'
Carney was touting the Building Canada Act, part of a contentious piece of legislation known as Bill C-5. The law, a response to Canada's trade crisis with the United States, was rammed through Parliament last month and would grant Ottawa temporary powers to sidestep existing environmental laws and regulations to spur the development of 'nation-building' projects like pipelines, ports and mines.
The law, and its rushed passage, sparked a deluge of concerns from critics that it could compromise Indigenous rights and environmental protections.
Behind the scenes on Thursday, the prime minister's vision of partnership and progress was put to the test.
Government officials only allowed media to observe Carney's opening speech, hustling reporters out of the Gatineau venue despite a desire from First Nations leadership to allow the public to hear from chiefs as well.
'I'm sorry you're all out here. We should have been in (there), and you should have been able to hear my speech,' Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told reporters outside the museum.
Woodhouse Nepinak said it was 'unfortunate' that media and the public were 'pushed out' of the remainder of the summit and said chiefs were not involved in the decision.
On Wednesday, she said the AFN had not developed the agenda with government officials, while AFN New Brunswick Regional Chief Joanna Bernard said Ottawa was 'putting up the agenda' and 'deciding how this is going to proceed.'
Agenda details were finalized in the days leading up to the summit, which kicked off with opening sessions on Wednesday before Carney's full-day confab the following morning.
As of Thursday, the agenda featured four 'working sessions' moderated by more cabinet ministers than chiefs, with the final session, titled 'Working Together,' to be led by Carney and six members of his front bench.
The sessions are expected to cover subjects including 'meaningful consultation,' the Indigenous Advisory Council in the legislation designed to ensure national-interest projects are chosen in tandem with rights-holders, and First Nations economic prosperity.
Aside from the prime minister, seven federal ministers and a group of Liberal MPs, secretaries of state and parliamentary secretaries were present at the summit. Michael Sabia, clerk of the Privy Council, also made an appearance.
Woodhouse Nepinak acknowledged Thursday that it had been many years since a prime minister had sat down with First Nations chiefs in this way.
'But I really think when the government organizes a meeting like this, to really talk to First Nations, that's so critically important,' she said. 'So we do call on the government to have a followup meeting one year from now.'
Other demands to be raised by chiefs Thursday include reviving a bill that expired before the election ensuring clean water in First Nations communities, developing further efforts to close the First Nations infrastructure gap that has left communities lacking essentials like schools, homes and roads, and putting a renewed focus on First Nations policing services.
'I think (Carney) has got to come up with some commitments, firm commitments, hopefully by the end of this day and in the weeks ahead,' Woodhouse Nepinak said.
Carney, speaking to reporters before his speech, said his focus for the day was not to identify nation-building projects but to listen to and engage with communities.
When asked whether he felt he would reach a consensus with First Nations representatives about the law, he said, 'Yes, I do.'
Summits with Inuit and Métis groups are expected to be held in the coming weeks and months.
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