Carney's push for 'nation-building' projects moves ahead despite some Indigenous opposition

Social Sharing
Prime Minister Mark Carney promised during the election campaign to "build big, build bold" and the legislation that would enable federal fast-tracking of major projects appears poised to clear the House of Commons despite some Indigenous opposition.
The legislation, Bill C-5, essentially gives cabinet the ability to pick certain projects to speed through the regulatory process, with an eye to projects that can deliver an economic boost to Canada, help strengthen the country's autonomy and resilience and, notably, "advance the interests of Indigenous peoples" and contribute to "clean growth."
While the bill, the One Canadian Economy Act, is expected to pass the Commons this week with Conservative support, opposition MPs made a number of amendments to the legislation Wednesday night to, among other things, make the streamlined process more transparent by forcing Ottawa to publish the conditions of approval and limiting the government's ability to allow a project to bypass certain laws.
Government House leader Mark MacKinnon said Thursday the cabinet will review the amendments quickly before deciding what it's willing to accept.
WATCH | Carney says Indigenous rights are central to C-5:
Carney says Indigenous rights are central to Bill C-5
2 hours ago
Duration 2:01
Following pushback from Indigenous leaders on the government's bill to get major projects built, Prime Minister Carney emphasized that Indigenous consultation is central to the legislation. Speaking at a news conference in Ottawa on Thursday, Carney affirmed the government's commitment to 'embrace' Indigenous Peoples' right to free, prior, and informed consent under the Constitution.
Canadians are tired of delays that have hurt economic growth and the government is determined to push ahead with the law, he said, which allows cabinet to exempt projects from provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Impact Assessment Law in the name of expediency.
Cabinet reviewing amendments
A Conservative amendment, if adopted, means however projects must comply with other laws, like the Conflict of Interest Act and Lobbying Act.
"Under the original Liberal proposal, projects could have been approved and built that would financially benefit members of the cabinet," the party said in a statement.
The Conservatives are making changes to stop the government from "sneaking in provisions that would give themselves the power to broadly skirt the laws of the land without consequences," the party said.
The government hasn't said what exactly would be fast-tracked under this legislation — and there are no specific projects mentioned in the bill itself — but Carney has signalled support for new energy "corridors" in the east and west, which could include pipelines and electricity grids, new and expanded port facilities, mines and other resource-related initiatives.
WATCH | Grand chief wants Governor General to intervene:
Speaking to reporters at an announcement Thursday about measures to protect the Canadian steel and aluminum industry, Carney said C-5 is "the core of our domestic response" to President Donald Trump's tariffs.
The push to get "nation-building" projects built, many of which would require huge quantities of steel and aluminum during construction, will help hard-hit sectors weather the U.S. trade war, he said.
"It's an important piece of legislation that has massive support among Canadians," MacKinnon said. "It was at the heart of our election campaign and election platform."
While some Indigenous leaders are opposed, others are on side with the push to deliver more money and jobs to communities that stand to gain from development, MacKinnon said.
"There are Indigenous communities, Indigenous nations that want to participate — they exist all over the country and they deserve to have their voices heard," MacKinnon said.
Still, some Indigenous leaders are pushing back against giving the cabinet, or the minister they designate to shepherd a project through, so much power to choose major projects.
The legislation itself states the government will recognize, affirm and "respect" Indigenous peoples' constitutional rights when considering a project. But there's a fear among some leaders that the consultation process with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities will be inadequate given Carney campaigned on making final decisions on projects within a two-year timeline.
Right to be consulted
The approvals process has been much longer than that in recent years with industry groups and critics saying endless consultations have bogged down getting things built, hurting the economy. Some Indigenous leaders, meanwhile, say they should be given a meaningful amount of time to offer opinions on a path forward.
The Supreme Court has ruled Indigenous peoples have a right to be consulted on a potential project — but they do not have a final veto on whether something should go ahead.
Carney promised Thursday to respect the government's legal obligations to Indigenous peoples — and make money available to communities that want to take an equity stake in proposed projects so any potential wealth can be shared.
"Consultation, co-operation, engagement, participation is at the heart of C-5 and that is how you build a nation. And that's very much how we've designed it," Carney said.
Despite those assurances, Indigenous leaders want more of a say over the bill itself, with clearer provisions that their rights won't be trampled as the government pushes to get things built fast during a trade war.
WATCH | Senator says he'll introduce amendment to delay Bill C-5:
Senator says he'll introduce amendment to delay Bill C-5
3 days ago
Duration 1:14
Paul Prosper, a Mi'kmaw senator from Nova Scotia, is promising to "slow down the process" in the Red Chamber with an amendment to give Indigenous peoples more time to weigh in and make their pitches to change the bill.
"If you don't do it right, we're looking at some potential litigation in the future. It's best to be proactive now," Prosper said.
It's not clear if he will be successful. The Senate has already agreed to a "work plan" to get the legislation through the upper house before it rises for the summer recess. MacKinnon said the bill will be put to a final vote in the Senate next week.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario, wants the Governor General to step in before giving the legislation royal assent — which is an unlikely and constitutionally dubious proposition.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Cision Canada

41 minutes ago

• Cision Canada

Prime Minister Carney announces changes in the senior ranks of the public service

OTTAWA, ON, /CNW/ - Canada's new government has a mandate for change. A stronger Canada depends on a strong and effective public service – one that is focused on execution, delivery, and impact. Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced the following changes in the senior ranks of the public service: Jean-François Tremblay, currently Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, becomes Senior Official at the Privy Council Office, effective June 30, 2025, while he prepares for his upcoming role as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Mollie Johnson, currently Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations) and, concurrently, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Clean Growth), Privy Council Office, becomes Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, effective June 30, 2025. Nancy Hamzawi, currently Executive Vice-President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, becomes President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, effective June 20, 2025. Alison O'Leary, currently Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy, Department of Finance Canada, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, effective June 30, 2025. The Prime Minister also announced that Kaili Levesque, Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, will provide direct support to the Secretary of State (Nature), and that Mark Schaan, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Artificial Intelligence), Privy Council Office, will provide direct support to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. The Prime Minister took the opportunity to congratulate Heather Jeffrey, former President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, on her recent retirement from the public service. He thanked her and Suzy McDonald, Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, for their dedication and service to Canadians throughout their careers and wished them all the best in the future. This document is also available at

National Post

42 minutes ago

• National Post

As Strike Continues, OCEU Sends Letter to Ministers and Engages in Productive Discussion with Labour Minister Piccini

Article content TORONTO — As the WSIB strike enters its second month, there is renewed hope for progress. The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) has sent a formal letter to Labour Minister David Piccini and Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney, urging them to end government interference in bargaining and help bring a fair resolution to the ongoing labour dispute. Article content Encouragingly, during an information picket held Thursday outside Minister Piccini's Seniors Seminar in Port Hope, OCEU President, Harry Goslin, had a productive and constructive conversation with the Minister. Article content 'We had a sincere discussion, and I'm hopeful that Minister Piccini will use his role to help bring the employer back to the table,' said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. 'WSIB workers are ready to get back to doing the work they care about — serving injured workers and protecting Ontario's compensation system. We just need a fair offer we can bring to our members.' Article content In the letter sent this week, OCEU warned that behind-the-scenes directives from the Treasury Board and continued political silence have contributed to a prolonged strike, delaying critical care and services for injured workers and increasing pressure on frontline staff. The union is calling on the government to allow the process to move forward free of political interference. Article content Despite being employer-funded — not taxpayer-funded — WSIB has so far refused to table a fair deal or let members vote on its latest offer. But the union is hopeful that renewed dialogue with Minister Piccini will mark a turning point. Article content 'We're optimistic that with political will and leadership, a final offer can be brought forward that puts an end to this disruption,' said Goslin. 'Our members want to return to work — and they deserve a respectful deal that reflects the essential services they provide.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content

CTV News

43 minutes ago

• CTV News

Teck Resources eyes output boost for chipmaking-metal germanium

The Teck Resources logo is seen on a podium before the company's special meeting of shareholders, in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, April 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck LONDON — Canada's Teck Resources is weighing options to expand production of germanium, a strategic metal key to chipmaking, and is currently talking with governments, including Canada and the United States, on available funding, said Doug Brown, VP communications & government affairs. Teck's plan comes amid growing efforts to diversify supplies of critical minerals needed for the tech and defense sectors, as geopolitical tensions and trade barriers complicate access to materials mainly produced or refined in China. 'We are examining options and market support for increasing production capacity of germanium,' he told Reuters. China, which supplies around 60 per cent of the world's refined germanium, restricted exports of the metal - along with gallium and antimony, all having broad military applications - to the United States, further escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies following Washington's crackdown on Beijing's chip sector. The export curbs were part of a broader effort launched in 2023, when China began imposing restrictions on critical mineral shipments, citing national security concerns. By controlling the export of these minerals, China aims to exert influence over the industries that use them, including renewable energy, defense, and chip manufacturing. Germanium is also used in semiconductors and infrared technology, fiber optic cables and solar cells. Teck is exploring ways to add to the current processing line using existing technology as one of the options, Brown said. Teck is North America's biggest germanium producer, and the fourth largest globally. Most of its germanium, a by-product of zinc ore concentrate at its Red Dog operations in Alaska, goes to the United States, via smelting and refining in British Columbia. Canada's germanium exports to the United States are currently exempt from tariffs as they comply with the USMCA (United States, Mexico, Canada) trade agreement. In a speech in Washington last January, Canada's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson welcomed partnerships with the United States to invest in critical minerals, including germanium. Canada's Energy Ministry declined to comment on funding for Teck, while saying that the prime minister is leading broader trade negotiations with the United States. (Reporting by Clara Denina; editing by David Evans)