Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland said 'members understand that Canada is at critical moment.'Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s promise to reduce internal trade barriers and speed up natural resources development is set to be fast-tracked after a vote late Monday that highlighted the political realignment in the House of Commons.
The minority Liberals’ effort to have C-5 pass by the end of this week won support from the Opposition Conservatives in a vote of 305-30.
The Bloc Québécois, NDP and Green MPs all voted against.
In the previous minority Parliament, the Liberals had governed with the support of the NDP and often the Bloc, rarely winning support from the Conservatives.
But in the early days of this Parliament, the bills Mr. Carney’s government has introduced are aligned with many of the priorities the Conservatives advanced in the recent election: strengthening the border, cutting personal income taxes and now, C5.
Immediately after the fast-track motion passed, Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland rose to kick off second-reading debate.
‘Nothing’s off the table’: AFN warns of potential legal action if Bill C-5 passes
“As we have seen in this strong-cross party support for this legislation, members understand that Canada is at critical moment,” she said, citing the impact of the tariff dispute with U.S. on the Canadian economy.
“This is why the time has come to act with determination, where we are in charge, here in Canada,” she continued, in French.
The bill, which the Liberals call the “One Canadian Economy Act” has two main parts.
One would see the federal government recognize provincial certifications and regulations in a bid to ease labour mobility and the movement of goods and services nationally. All opposition parties are broadly aligned on those steps.
The other part is the subject of growing controversy. Its main provision – a system to declare natural resources projects as in the national interest, and thus fast-tracked through approval processes – is being criticized for flouting requirements for Indigenous consultation and potentially running roughshod over environmental regulation.
NDP MP Leah Gazan said earlier Monday the Liberals and Conservatives are working in tandem to benefit corporate Canada and the bill demands more scrutiny than the fast-track plan will provide. The law as written violates constitutional obligations to Indigenous people and human rights, she said.
What federal Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is all about
“We are not against projects of national interest,” she told reporters.
“But what we are saying is that it needs to be done properly. The way the Liberals have rolled out this bill, we will have no national interest projects. Why? Because projects are going to wind up in the courts.”
If the bill passes second reading, it will proceed to committee study on Tuesday. The House of Commons would consider it a third and final time by week’s end.
With only seven MPs in the House of Commons, the NDP doesn’t have official party status, and thus no spot on House of Commons committees, including the transport committee, which will study the bill.
Ms. Gazan said her party would work on amplifying the voices of people worried about the proposed law.
“We will make sure the voices of all the folks that the Liberal government is leaving out, Indigenous people, environmental organizations, health organizations, labour in organizations will have a place and a voice.”
New federal legislation would cut internal trade barriers, advance ‘nation-building’ projects
The Assembly of First Nations convened an emergency meeting Monday to discuss their response to the bill, and senior Indigenous leaders also appeared before the Senate for its pre-study.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said she can’t predict what the Indigenous response will be if the bill passes.
“I think nothing’s off the table, and that’s why I’m saying – take the summer, take the fall,” she told senators.
First Nations understand Canada is in unprecedented times, she said, and they also want to grow and flourish but not at the expense of their rights.
In an interview with The Globe and Mail, she said that could include protests, legal action, or a number of other steps.
On Tuesday, the lead minister for the bill, Dominic LeBlanc, is scheduled to appear before the Senate, as well as Rebecca Alty, the minister of Crown-Indigenous relations.
Conservative MPs had led off Question Period on Monday by demanding that the Liberals go further than C-5 and permanently scrap impact assessment legislation that businesses say is a burden to investment.
“The Liberal laws still in place make it nearly impossible to get anything built,” said Conservative Party deputy leader Melissa Lantsman, who described C-5 as an effort by the government to allow “a few favoured VIPs” to receive exemptions.
“Everyone knows the laws are broken and we need to exempt projects for them. So why not just repeal the laws, period?” she asked.
The Liberals have yet to explain why they are not taking that step.
– with reports from Bill Curry and Emily Haws