Latest news with #NathanielErskineSmith
National Post
9 hours ago
- Politics
- National Post
'We have to get that balance right': Liberal MPs express worries about major projects bill
OTTAWA — More progressive Liberal MPs expressed cautious concerns about their government's decision to ram through the internal trade and major projects bill in a matter of days, with some of them saying it could lead to legal issues down the road. Article content Bill C-5 would give the federal government sweeping powers for five years to quickly approve natural resource and infrastructure projects once they are deemed to be in the national interest — sparking criticism from First Nations and environmental groups. Article content Article content Article content Those concerns have been heard loud and clear and, in some cases, have resonated with some Liberal MPs. The bill is being studied and will be amended in a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, before it makes its way back to the House of Commons for a final vote Friday. Article content Article content Earlier this week, Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said his government 'is proposing to shut down democratic debate, curtail committee scrutiny and jam the bill through the legislature,' all which he said would make former prime minister Stephen Harper 'blush.' Article content 'Liberals would rightly scream if a federal Conservative government attempted the same,' he said in a speech to the House on Monday. Article content B.C. MP Patrick Weiler also urged parliamentarians to consider how this bill 'could be used in bad faith by a future government' given those powers will be in place for five years. Article content A few Liberals expressed discomfort at the idea that some Indigenous groups said C-5 could potentially violate their treaty rights and that it does not clearly define the need for them to give free, prior and informed consent for projects taking place on their lands. Article content Article content 'There is a clear desire on the part of Canadians to be able to get big projects done in this country,' said Karina Gould, a former leadership contestant and current MP. 'But there is a duty and an obligation to ensure that Indigenous rights holders are part of this process.' Article content 'We have to get that balance right, because if you don't, the government will be facing court challenges,' she added. Article content The warning has been issued by First Nations groups, including Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict who represents 133 First Nations across the province and said he would support them however they see necessary, whether it be in the courts or with protests. Article content 'Obviously, we have to talk. We have to have those conversations, and we have to assure that Indigenous participation is included all the way through. And I think that will be the job ahead of us for the summer,' said Brendan Hanley, the Liberal MP for Yukon.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Major projects bill moving ahead despite pushback from Indigenous groups, MP
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith takes questions from reporters as he arrives for a meeting of the Liberal caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA — A House of Commons committee is scheduled to sit until midnight to study legislation that would give the government sweeping powers to drive forward major projects. But Bill C-5 will be pushed through the House this week with limited study, despite warnings from environmental and Indigenous groups. Some Liberal members of Parliament say they have concerns of their own. MP Nate Erskine-Smith made his opinion known in Parliament on Tuesday, saying the government is rushing the bill. Fellow Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski says that while he understands the concerns about the pace, he believes the bill needs to pass this summer. Liberal MP Karina Gould says the government needs to strike the right balance on the bill or it will face court challenges. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025. The Canadian Press
CTV News
a day ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Liberal MP wants to see major projects bill amended, studied further
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith arrives for a meeting of the Liberal caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, May 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA — Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith says he wants the House of Commons to sit for another week to study Prime Minister Mark Carney's major projects bill. Erskine-Smith was the only Liberal to vote against his own government's closure motion, which limits debate time on Bill C-5. The Liberals and Conservatives passed a closure motion on Monday that will push the bill through the House of Commons this week. Smith says he's never seen a bill of this magnitude pushed through the House at such a pace in his ten years as a Toronto-area MP. He says he supports getting new projects built quickly but wants to see the bill studied more thoroughly and amended to remove contentious clauses that grant the executive more power. He says he will only support the bill if it's amended because he worries it would set a 'dangerous precedent' and enable a future Conservative government to 'gut environmental protections.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025 The Canadian Press
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Toronto MP says he feels ‘disrespected' after being dropped from cabinet
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith takes questions from reporters as he arrives for a meeting of the Liberal caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Toronto MP says he feels ‘disrespected' after being dropped from cabinet
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith takes questions from reporters as he arrives for a meeting of the Liberal caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA — Former housing minister Nate Erskine-Smith says it's 'impossible not to feel disrespected' after being dropped from cabinet. In a series of social media posts Tuesday, the member of Parliament for Beaches–East York said he ran in the recent election for the opportunity to make 'an even bigger difference around the cabinet table and to help fix the housing crisis.' 'Congratulations to new and old colleagues who were sworn in today,' Erskine-Smith said in a post. 'This moment calls for a capable team ready to get to work quickly. It's nice to see a number of colleagues receive overdue recognition and I'm hopeful we'll see a lot accomplished in the coming months.' Prime Minister Mark Carney shook up his cabinet Tuesday by moving some key players involved in Canada-U.S. relations into new positions and promoting 24 new faces in a move meant to signal change at the top. Erskine-Smith was among 10 people Carney dropped from his cabinet. Erskine-Smith, who was first elected in 2015, said in January 2024 that he wouldn't run again in the next federal election, but reversed course in December after he was appointed minister of housing by then-prime minister Justin Trudeau. He said that the way things played out with the new cabinet 'doesn't sit right' with him. 'But I'm mostly disappointed that my team and I won't have the chance to build on all we accomplished with only a short runway,' he said in a social media post. Erskine-Smith said that while 'you never know what the future holds,' for now he'll be 'working hard' for his constituents, restarting his podcast and returning to Parliament with 'a renewed sense of freedom.' Also left out of the cabinet on Tuesday were former defence minister Bill Blair, former energy minister Jonathan Wilkinson, former Treasury Board president Ginette Petitpas Taylor and former environment minister Terry Duguid. Several MPs who were shuffled out took to social media Tuesday to express their gratitude for the opportunity to serve. Wilkinson said serving the country in cabinet 'remains one of the greatest honours' of his life. Petitpas Taylor congratulated the members of Carney's cabinet and said in French that she was proud to serve Moncton–Dieppe and support the government in building 'a better Canada for all.' Arielle Kayabaga, who served as minister of democratic institutions and leader of the government in the House of Commons in Carney's first cabinet, said she was 'deeply honoured' to have had the opportunity to serve as a member of the prime minister's team. — With files from Kyle Duggan This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025. Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
