Mark Carney's government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure bill
OTTAWA — The Liberal government is reviewing a series of changes to add oversight and restrain some — but not all — of the extraordinary powers created under its controversial legislation to fast-track major development projects.
The proposed law, Bill C-5, has sparked warnings of Indigenous resistance in the coming weeks, along with condemnation from environmental groups, and some reservations within the Liberal caucus. But the government insists the legislation is necessary in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, after the Liberals won a minority government in the April 28 election while promising to supercharge economic growth and reduce Canada's reliance on the unpredictable United States.
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National Observer
an hour ago
- National Observer
Ford promises mining projects won't proceed without First Nations consultation after backlash
After meeting with 39 Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ontario Premier Doug Ford reversed his position and pledged that no mining or development projects in First Nations communities — including in the Ring of Fire — will move forward without their consultation. The meeting follows weeks of growing resistance to Bill 5, with First Nations leaders saying it was passed without meaningful consultation and warning the law violates treaty rights. Some have signalled potential blockades of roads, railways and mining sites if the province proceeds. Ford had warned such actions would not be 'wise,' saying, 'They need to move on or they'll be dealt with appropriately,' but following his meeting, his tone shifted significantly. In a joint press conference on Thursday with First Nations leaders, Ford said the meeting with the chiefs was 'productive' and added that critical mineral development — a key part of Ontario's economic strategy — cannot happen without partnership with Indigenous communities. 'Nothing moves without First Nations consultation — respecting the duty to consult and making sure we work together,' Ford said. 'We're going to get through this, and we're going to have a great collaboration.' First Nations leaders who attended the meeting said the premier's apology was welcome, but did not change their position. 'Our nations remain opposed to Bill 5,' said Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige of the Anishinabek Nation. 'This was not a consultation — it was our first conversation.' Ford also intends to visit First Nations communities to hear their needs directly — whether related to water, long-term care, or infrastructure. 'When First Nations prosper, Ontario prospers,' he said. 'And when Ontario prospers, Canada prospers.' After meeting with 39 Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ontario Premier Doug Ford reversed his position and pledged that no mining or development projects in First Nations communities will move forward without their consultation. Ford also apologized for remarks he made on Wednesday, when he said First Nations were coming 'hat-in-hand' for money from his government while rejecting resource development. At the heart of the legislation is a provision that allows the provincial cabinet to create 'special economic zones,' where selected projects and developers could be exempt from environmental regulations and planning laws — undermining First Nations consultation. The government has already signalled its intent to designate the Ring of Fire as a 'special economic zone' under the new law. Tools for consultation Debassige said the meeting focused on broader treaty responsibilities, but not on the legislative substance of the bill. 'Our First Nations have said, and continue to say, that we are not opposed to development; however, it must be done with us as true partners.' She added that the Ontario government has now officially recognized that lands and resources are not theirs to give, exploit or regulate as economic corridors. Laura Bowman, a lawyer with Ecojustice, says the Ford government's approach to consultation under Bill 5 falls far short of constitutional obligations. 'You can't fulfill the duty to consult after removing the tools needed to do it,' she said. 'The duty to consult requires more than just meetings … It requires information-sharing, clear regulatory frameworks and enforceable mechanisms to accommodate First Nations' rights.' Bowman says by exempting certain projects from environmental assessments and planning laws, the province is depriving First Nations of critical information — such as how development may affect local wildlife, water or culturally significant lands — and removing the legal tools needed to negotiate protections or alternatives. 'The government has passed a law without telling communities how it will be used, what projects will be exempt or what safeguards will remain,' she said. 'That's not consultation — that's bypassing the entire process.' Bowman told Canada's National Observer the province needs to change the special economic zone provision of the bill to include clear rules for consent, environmental oversight and real engagement. Sara Mainville, an Anishinaabe lawyer, said many First Nations are exploring legal avenues to challenge the bill. 'Right now, the idea that we should just trust them is a non-starter for First Nations,' she said. 'There's no trust right now.' NDP MPP: 'We are not stakeholders. We are treaty partners.' Sol Mamakwa, the NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong and the only First Nations member of the Ontario Legislature, said Ford's change in tone is welcome — but not enough. 'The premier seems to have realized that this can't move forward without First Nations,' Mamakwa said. 'But let's be clear — this wasn't consultation. And we're not stakeholders. We're treaty partners.' Mamakwa told Canada's National Observer Bill 5 backs Indigenous communities 'into a corner' and warned that the only recourse left may be legal or direct action. 'If we're not part of the decision-making from the start, it's not reconciliation. It's just politics.' Mainville told Canada's National Observer the government must be transparent about how it plans to fulfill its constitutional duty to consult First Nations and Métis peoples — especially since Bill 5 exempts major projects from key legislation that would normally trigger such consultation. 'Without a clear regulatory path, what's left is political promises,' she said, 'and First Nations have seen how those can shift.'
National Observer
an hour ago
- National Observer
'Here We Stand': River journey protests controversial bills By Sonal Gupta News Urban Indigenous Communities in Ottawa June 20th 2025 Scroll down to continue Share this article
Jeronimo Kataquapit with his parents and brother by the Attawapiskat River during one of the protests. Courtesy of Jeronimo Kataquapit. A 20-year-old university student from Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario is putting his summer on hold — and taking a 400-kilometre boat journey to protest against new provincial and federal bills he says threaten his people's land, culture and way of life. Jeronimo Kataquapit is leading a grassroots movement called "Here We Stand," a direct response to Ontario's recently passed Bill 5 and the proposed federal Bill C-5 — pieces of legislation that, according to Indigenous leaders, accelerate mining and development in the Ring of Fire region without proper Indigenous consultation. Kataquapit's journey, which began Monday from Attawapiskat, is a physical reassertion of Indigenous presence and inherent rights in a territory he argues is wrongly portrayed as uninhabited. 'One of the general opinions I hear is that there are no First Nations here, that our way of life is gone,' Kataquapit said. 'They say that whenever they come to do surveys or look around, there's no evidence we were here — but there is evidence that we were here.' To emphasize his point, Kataquapit is planting tipi poles every half-kilometre and raising community-made flags to mark the nations' territory and challenge the claim that the Ring of Fire is 'empty land.' Visible markers will send a clear message to both levels of government, he said. Bill 5 and Bill C-5 will open the door for governments to carve out special economic zones or designate projects that can bypass both environmental rules and the need for Indigenous consent. 'UNDRIP is broken. Free, prior, and informed consent is broken. The duty to consult is broken,' said Coleen Moonias, a spokesperson for Neskantaga First Nation. 'We must continue to fight together and be united.' At the heart of this dispute is the Ring of Fire, a vast mineral-rich region that provincial and federal governments see as key to Canada's ambitions as an 'international resource superpower.' Attawapiskat and Neskantaga are Cree and Oji-Cree First Nations located in the James Bay Lowlands. Both are members of the Mushkegowuk Council and have a long history of defending their lands and waterways from industrial development, including projects in the Ring of Fire region. The council, after seeing Kataquapit's efforts, helped turn his solo action into a larger movement. 'Anything that happens by the Ring of Fire will affect Attawapiskat itself, whether it's hydroelectric dams, whether it's any type of environmental contamination, will affect Attawapiskat. All water flows down,' Kataquapit said. The James Bay Lowlands is one of the world's largest untouched peatland areas. This area has vast wetlands, forests and rivers that provide important homes for woodland caribou, lake sturgeon and millions of migratory birds. People living along the Attawapiskat River, which flows 748 kilometres from Attawapiskat Lake, call themselves 'the water people,' as they care for the rivers, swamps and peatlands around them. Wetlands act as a carbon sink, helping to filter and clean the water that flows into the rivers. "They call it the swamp. They call us Swampy Cree people. So they have a purpose,' Michel Koostachin, a member of Attawapiskat First Nation. If protections are weakened, local First Nations fear mining could harm habitats and contaminate the water with industrial pollutants and toxins. "Industry comes and goes — whether it's dams, hydro or mining — but the people who don't come and go are the First Nations people," said Abram Benedict, Ontario regional chief for the Chiefs of Ontario. "When the land is desecrated, it's the First Nations people who are left to clean it up. There are no water pipelines running up into the north, and while there are many fresh bodies of water, it only takes one bad environmental disaster to contaminate them all. I don't blame people for wanting to protect the land." Neskantaga, located upriver, has endured Canada's longest-running boil water advisory — over 30 years. Attawapiskat has also faced on-and-off boil water advisories for years. Chapter 1 On the river Scroll down to continue Map showing Kataquapit's boat journey with his parents from Attawapiskat, with stops where the Muketei River meets the Attawapiskat River and at a final destination further inland. Along the route, they place markers to assert the land as Indigenous territory. Courtesy of Jeronimo Kataquapit. While allies organize rallies and lobby at Parliament Hill and Queen's Park, Kataquapit — a filmmaker and second-year geography and environmental management student at the University of Waterloo — is travelling with his parents and brother along the Attawapiskat River. 'We're out in what most people would consider the middle of nowhere—about 500 kilometres north of the nearest highway,' Kataquapit said. The trip came together just two weeks ago, after Kataquapit learned about federal Bill C-5, then known as the 'national interest' legislation. 'When I first heard of Bill C-5, I thought, 'Okay, this is it. They're going to come in and this is just going to completely stomp all over our race,'' he said. 'The Ring of Fire is coming, and we have to act.' Kataquapit pointed to Ontario's Bill 5 as clear evidence that the provincial government does not value meaningful input from Indigenous communities. He noted that the legislation was passed without consulting First Nations, undermining the duty to consult and weakening legal protections for Indigenous rights and the environment. 'The time for talking is over. Just look at Ontario's Bill 5. They showed us how much our words are worth to them,' he said. 'We have to go out on the land and get things started.' Kataquapit called his parents and told them he was clearing his summer. They immediately agreed, cancelling their own plans to join him on the river. He used his university funds to get started — fuel, supplies and gear. As word spread, donations began arriving from Attawapiskat, neighbouring First Nations and supporters online. Over the week, the community created family flags with handwritten messages like: 'Youth are for the land,' 'Youth want to protect the land' and 'We need to conserve the land and waters for future generations.' The family livestreams their journey on Facebook, using a Starlink internet connection powered by a generator set up on their boat. This allows them to share their trip in real time as they move along the river and make stops. 'I'm not waiting for anyone. We just need to get out there and start informing as many people as possible,' Kataquapit said. The journey upriver is tough, especially this time of year. Water levels are low, forcing them at times to get out and pull the boats through shallow stretches. His mother, Monique Edwards, said the family's connection to the land runs deep. 'We're people that go out on the land all the time. He's always been; even before he walked, we got him out on the land,' she said. Chapter 2 Long-term commitment Scroll down to continue As part of their journey, Kataquapit and his family live-stream from stops—day and evening—sharing moments of rest, reflection, and ceremony to assert their deep connection to the land. Screenshot from Jeronimo Kataquapit's Here We Stand Facebook page. The initial destination for the river journey was the confluence of the Muketei River and the main Attawapiskat River. Now they plan to go further, which involves a first stop at the Muketei River junction to plant the family flags and take videos on Friday, followed by a continuation further upriver to establish an encampment with Neskantaga First Nation and other Indigenous communities who have expressed interest in joining. Members of Attawapiskat and other First Nations are expected to join them by float plane at the encampment, possibly next Monday. Kataquapit said more than 30 people have already signed up for the float planes, and he expects more to join. He said all of this is being funded through donations and individuals' personal money. Kataquapit is documenting every step as the expedition's videographer, photographer and social media manager. He sees the fight against the bills as a long-term commitment, and is determined to remain on the land throughout the summer and fall — and if necessary into the winter. "Me and my parents, we're not going back to Attawapiskat. We're not going anywhere else until Bill 5 is withdrawn," he said. Edwards said she is reflecting on the connection she has with their ancestors as they travel through the same places along the river that have been used for millennia. That connection to the past shapes how the family approaches their boat journey today. 'We don't just come in, make our mark, and leave it at that,' Kataquapit said. 'We spread out the fires, gather every single piece of trash, and carry it with us the entire journey. A large part of why we're doing this trip is to reassert our presence and show what true stewardship looks like.' Chapter 3 The Ring of Fire: A central battleground Scroll down to continue The family's two boats, fully stocked with supplies as they prepare to camp out through the summer and into fall or winter in protest against the bills. Courtesy of Jeronimo Kataquapit. Kataquapit warns that if governments are allowed to bypass Indigenous rights here, it sets a dangerous precedent for Indigenous nations across Canada and globally. 'Everyone is looking at the Ring of Fire. If we manage to stop, if we stand our ground and say, 'This is where we're going to stand, right here, and we're not going to move,' and if we are successful, then I think that will set a really solid precedent for every other potential conflict with the federal and provincial governments across Canada,' he said. "These young people are making the stand. They're calling out peaceful protests, they're not blockading the road,' said Koostachin, who is also founder of Friends of Attawapiskat River, a coalition of community members and allies working to protect Attawapiskat, Neskantaga, and other Treaty 9 nations. Beyond peaceful demonstrations, legal action is also underway. Koostachin said Friends of Attawapiskat River are working closely with legal counsel from Legal Advocates for Nature's Defence and are committed to challenging the validity of Ontario's Bill 5 in court, arguing it violates Indigenous and treaty rights. He said that a First Nation — yet to be publicly named — is expected to lead the legal action, with Friends of Attawapiskat River and other First Nations communities prepared to intervene and submit arguments stating breaches of Indigenous, treaty and Aboriginal rights, as well as violations of UNDRIP. Similar legal challenges are anticipated if Bill C-5 is enacted at the federal level. 'The region is the last pristine land in northern Ontario,' said Koostachin. 'There will be no bulldozing across the Attawapiskat River without our consent. Our people will stand together and stand strong.' 'We're not environmental radicals. We're the stewards of the land ... we're not protesters, we're protectors.' Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer All photos and video footage provided by Jeronimo Kataquapit, who is a filmmaker documenting his family's boat journey in opposition to Bill 5 and C-5. Compiled and edited by Sonal Gupta. Related content One in four Canadians say they were affected by extreme weather in last year: poll Carney's controversial major projects bill clears committee Carney steered the G7 through the 'diplomatic Rockies,' says expert
National Observer
an hour ago
- National Observer
Opposition parties curtail some special powers in Carney's Bill C-5
A controversial bill that would give the federal government the ability to override laws and regulations and fast-track projects is one step closer to becoming law. The federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities passed 23 amendments to Bill C-5 and wrapped up after midnight following a marathon Wednesday session. The Carney government used a special order to limit debate and study to try to get the bill through Parliament before MPs leave for summer recess this Friday. Along with removing federal barriers to internal trade, Bill C-5 would allow the federal cabinet to conditionally approve projects it deems 'in the national interest' before regulatory processes take place and enable cabinet to exempt those projects from many laws and regulations. If passed in its original form, the bill would also empower cabinet to override any laws passed by Parliament, like the Criminal Code or Species at Risk Act, for example. Some of that power has been curtailed after opposition MPs carved out some exclusions and checks on the powers it would afford the federal government, but Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval is not satisfied. 'The bill is less problematic than it was, but it's still not a good bill for sure,' Barsalou-Duval said in an interview early Thursday morning with Canada's National Observer. 'It's not a good deal for the environment and Canada.' The Bloc and Conservatives amended the bill to curtail cabinet's power, naming 16 laws the federal government could not override, including the Criminal Code, Indian Act, Lobbying Act, Conflict of Interest Act, Trade Unions Act and Hazardous Products Act, and others. A controversial bill that would give the federal government the ability to override laws and regulations and fast-track projects is one step closer to becoming law. A federal committee passed 23 amendments in a marathon session. The NDP and Green Party also oppose Bill C-5, but only the Bloc Québécois gets a vote at committee meetings. That didn't stop Green Party Leader Elizabeth May from attending virtually to speak to her amendments. No NDP MP was present for the clause-by-clause debate and votes. Another amendment passed by the Bloc Québécois and Conservatives prevents the government from designating projects for fast-tracking when Parliament is prorogued or dissolved. Environmental lawyers, including West Coast Environmental Law's Anna Johnston, criticized the bill for lacking transparency. Opposition MPs made some gains on this with a series of amendments that will require more information about listed projects to be made public in a timely manner. Many of these amendments, particularly those that increase transparency, are a step in the right direction and could 'go a long way towards improving government accountability to voters,' Johnston told Canada's National Observer in an emailed statement. However, cabinet would still get sweeping powers to declare when and for whom laws apply, which is troubling, she said. Additionally, now, if a project has not been substantially started within five years of being listed, the document expires, according to a Bloc amendment. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said no project will be imposed on a province, but this is not spelled out in the bill and the Bloc Québécois are not willing to take Carney at his word. The party tried — and failed — many times to change the bill's language to explicitly require Quebec's consent for any project within its jurisdiction. 'The thing that was the most important for us is not in the bill,' Barsalou-Duval said after the meeting concluded. The Liberal committee members opposed these changes and the Conservatives abstained. Liberal MP Will Greaves told Canada's National Observer the amendment is unnecessary because provincial jurisdiction is in the Constitution. 'Any law that we pass is subject to the Constitution, and the provinces' jurisdictions are the starting point; they don't need to be written into the bill expressly.' The Bloc did manage to pass an amendment that would require the federal government to give 30 days' notice before a project is listed in the national interest, consult with the province where it will be carried out and 'obtain its written consent if the project falls within areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction.' The eight-hour committee meeting on Wednesday evening was marked by friendly exchanges, jokes and laughter between Liberal, Bloc Québécois and Conservative MPs, despite the BQ's vehement opposition to the proposed legislation. The rare instances of unanimity resulted in smatterings of applause and cheers, with Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs exclaiming: 'I'm so used to fighting and losing!' But there were tense exchanges as well, particularly between BQ MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who testified for two hours alongside Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and newly elected Liberal MP and minister of Crown–Indigenous relations, Rebecca Alty. Barsalou-Duval compared the sweeping powers in Bill C-5 to a 'disguised' version of the Emergencies Act, and suggested the federal government is taking advantage of the trade war with US President Donald Trump to grant itself extreme powers. LeBlanc balked at the comparison to the Emergencies Act, and said the current situation is urgent from an economic standpoint. Through much interruption and back-and-forth, Barsalou-Duval fired back: 'We don't know that you will act in our best interest.' The CPC and BQ voted in favour of an NDP amendment to add language about good-paying, unionized jobs to the preamble.
