A rendering of the Squamish Nation’s Sen̓áḵw housing project in Vancouver, an example of First Nations-led major nation-building projects across Canada.Tandem Studios/Supplied
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
At a time of growing global uncertainty – amid trade disruptions, rising inflation, climate change and international instability – Canada is looking for ways to strengthen its economy, create good jobs and build lasting resilience. Investing in First Nations infrastructure directly supports these national priorities and represents one of our greatest collective nation-building opportunities.
Every person in Canada deserves clean water to drink, reliable infrastructure to support their families and a strong foundation to build a future. Yet for far too many First Nations, these basic needs remain out of reach owing to generations of underinvestment. According to the Assembly of First Nations’ report "Closing the Infrastructure Gap," an estimated $349.2-billion is needed to bring First Nations infrastructure in line with the rest of Canada by 2030. Delays would only increase the cost and limit the potential returns.
And there would be significant returns. Additional research, supported by the Conference Board of Canada, shows that improving First Nations infrastructure would generate $635-billion in economic output, boost GDP by $308.9-billion, and create 330,000 jobs annually across Canada over seven years.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has even acknowledged the “potential economic opportunity” of closing the infrastructure gap. On the campaign trail, Mr. Carney argued that doing so would, on its own, have a larger positive impact on Canada’s economy than the negative effects of Donald Trump’s tariffs, underscoring both the urgency and the scale of this opportunity.
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Beyond the economic data, these investments would also mean that children could sleep safely in their own homes, enjoy clean water in every community, use reliable transportation to access high-quality healthcare and education services, and take advantage of connectivity that allows young people to fully participate in Canada’s economy. This would be nation-building in the fullest sense.
First Nations are not waiting. Across the country, First Nations are already leading major nation-building projects, from the Clear Sky Connections broadband project linking 63 Manitoba First Nations, to new water systems in Listuguj Mi’gmaq territory, to the Squamish Nation’s Sen̓áḵw housing project in Vancouver. These projects meet urgent needs while driving growth, clean energy, and digital connectivity that benefit the entire country. They show what’s possible when communities have the resources to build. But to fully close the infrastructure gap nationwide, sustained federal investment is essential.
As governments put forward legislative proposals to advance major infrastructure projects, proposals that come at the expense of First Nations rights are not the path forward. Any development must respect inherent and treaty rights as recognized and affirmed by the Constitution, and must reflect the Crown’s duty to consult and obtain free, prior, and informed consent, as affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Today marks National Indigenous Peoples Day and the four-year anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Yet instead of advancing reconciliation, Canada is pushing legislation like Bill C-5 without hearing from First Nations rights holders. At this week’s AFN National Virtual Forum, leaders raised serious concerns about the bill’s impact on First Nations rights. Chiefs called for that same urgency to be directed toward the infrastructure our communities actually need – homes, schools, clean water, roads and internet.
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Fast-tracking development while sidelining rights-holders doesn’t advance reconciliation – it undermines it.
Attempts to override rights and exclude First Nations from decision-making reflect a narrow and incomplete vision of nation-building, and risk sidelining one of Canada’s most transformative opportunities for shared prosperity. The path forward is not to build first and address rights later. True national interest requires full participation and consent of First Nations rights-holders from the start.
Canada must prioritize sustained investments in First Nations-led infrastructure that strengthen community resilience and contribute directly to Canada’s economic, climate and long-term sustainability priorities. By any measure, investments in First Nations infrastructure meet the definition of national interest. The government’s own proposed framework includes priorities like economic growth, resilience and clean growth, all of which would be directly advanced by such investments.
If Canada is serious about building a stronger, more secure and more prosperous future, let’s start with fast-tracking the construction of new homes, modern schools and clean water systems in First Nation communities. Let’s fast-track internet access, all-season roads and community infrastructure that has long been neglected. Let’s work in true partnership, through full consultation, shared legislative development, and recognition that Canada’s future is tied to the success of its First Peoples.
That is how you build a country – by ensuring the foundations are strong for everyone. The future of Canada depends on it.