Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs Rebecca Chartrand says the bill could lead to significant economic prosperity.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand says the projects her government is looking to move forward under a new bill to fast-track national infrastructure would require consent from Indigenous rights holders.
Ms. Chartrand, who is Indigenous, was asked in an interview what happens within the legislation known as Bill C-5 if Indigenous groups are consulted and don’t want a project to go ahead or for it to be deemed in the national interest and fast-tracked.
“My understanding of the national projects that we’re looking to move forward is that we do have to have consent from Indigenous rights holders, so there will be consultation to ensure that there is support for these national projects,” she said.
The bill could lead to significant economic prosperity, she said. Indigenous people who voted for the Liberals did so in part because of their record on Indigenous issues, she added.
“There is definitely going to be opportunity for consultation and accommodation,” Ms. Chartrand said, referring to Section 35 of the Constitution, which affirms Indigenous rights.
The Chiefs of Ontario, an organization encompassing 133 First Nations, protested against the bill on Parliament Hill Tuesday. They echoed several Indigenous groups who say they are not against development, but are concerned Bill C-5 may violate their rights and are upset at how it is being fast-tracked through Parliament.
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Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said Ms. Chartrand’s comments seemed to conflict with previous comments that Justice Minister Sean Fraser made and then apologized for: that First Nations would not have a veto over projects.
“That’s why we were saying, ‘then we need to see it on paper,’ ” Mr. Fiddler said. “It needs to be in the actual legislation.”
Along with reducing internal trade barriers, the proposed legislation aims to speed up approvals for projects deemed by the government to be in the national interest from five years to two.
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said she wants the government to consider withdrawing Bill C-5 and working with Indigenous rights holders over the summer to “get it right.”
Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, of the Chiefs of Ontario, says it will be “a long summer” if the government passes the legislation. He says his organization will support whatever its 133 First Nations want to do, whether that be a court challenge, protests or creating awareness.
Both Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc spoke to senators about the proposed legislation on Tuesday.
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Ms. Alty said that proponents who don’t engage with Indigenous people before bringing their projects forward will be given a lower evaluation.
“We’ll be looking for projects that have Indigenous support and even better, Indigenous equity in the project,” she said.
The definition of consultation is not in the legislation because it can be difficult to have a single definition, she said. The government wants it to be meaningful, she added, and it is committed to meeting the duty to consult and accommodate in the Constitution.
She added that it will suspend “archaic provisions” under the Indian Act, in consultation with First Nations, if needed to get projects built. As well, she said the terms of reference for the promised Indigenous Advisory Council will be drafted over the summer, with it running in the fall.
Mr. LeBlanc added that Mr. Carney will meet with Indigenous rights holders and organizations before the Indigenous Advisory Council is set up.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has suggested oil could be among the products going through what he wants to be a future trade corridor. He has floated a possible expansion to the Port of Churchill.
Ms. Chartrand, who represents Northern Manitoba, said the port already has a rail line. Arctic Gateway Group, which owns and operates the port, is completely Indigenous-owned, she said, guaranteeing Indigenous partnership in building it.
On the idea of oil tankers in the North, though, she said she couldn’t comment because it has not yet been deemed a national project.
“That is only going to happen in consultation with provinces and with Indigenous peoples,” she said. “If Indigenous peoples are not happy with it, then maybe we move on to another project.”