Prime Minister Mark Carney is joined by members of his cabinet as he speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on June 20, after Bill C-5 passed in the House.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
The Senate has passed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s signature legislation meant to reduce interprovincial trade barriers and fast-track projects that the government deems in the national interest.
Bill C-5 was adopted by the Senate on division Thursday afternoon, which means that it was not unanimous but a standing vote did not take place and therefore was not recorded. The bill received royal assent and passed into law Thursday evening.
The legislation allows the federal cabinet to put projects on a national-interest list and then exempt them from various legal requirements in order to speed up approvals. The provisions have come under fire from environmental activists as well as Indigenous groups, who have said they want development but not at the expense of their rights.
Explainer: What federal Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is all about
AFN calls on senators to slow down Carney’s major projects bill
Referencing constitutional obligations, federal ministers have repeatedly said that Indigenous rights holders will be consulted before a project is given a national-interest designation, as well as on conditions that a project would have to meet.
Nova Scotia Senator Tony Ince said during the debate that he supported the bill, but noted that he has concerns with it, pointing to both speed and issues Indigenous groups have raised.
“I will hope that I won’t regret it,” he said. “I just hope that my comments do not fall on deaf ears and that the government truly follows through on everything that they know they have a duty to do.”
Last week, Mr. Carney announced that he will hold full-day engagement sessions with First Nations, Inuit and Métis rights holders. The first one will be with First Nations on July 17, with the other two groups after that.
The Liberal government has argued that the legislation, which made it through the legislative process in under a month, is needed to bolster the economy in light of threats from the United States.
Earlier in the day, a few senators had tried to amend Bill C-5, but the votes failed.