Carney’s push for ‘nation-building’ projects moves ahead despite some Indigenous opposition
Prime Minister Mark Carney made a bold promise during the election campaign to “build big, build bold,” and now 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, known as the One Canadian Economy Act, gives cabinet the authority to select certain projects to expedite through the regulatory process. The goal is to focus on projects that can provide an economic boost to Canada, strengthen the country’s autonomy and resilience, advance the interests of Indigenous peoples, and contribute to clean growth.
While the bill is expected to pass the Commons with Conservative support, opposition MPs have introduced amendments to make the streamlined process more transparent. These amendments include 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 stated that the cabinet will review the amendments quickly before deciding what changes to accept.
Prime Minister Carney has emphasized that Indigenous consultation is central to the legislation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to embracing Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior, and informed consent under the Constitution. The push to get “nation-building” projects built is seen as a response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with a focus on creating new energy corridors in the east and west, which could include pipelines, electricity grids, port facilities, mines, and other resource-related initiatives.
While some Indigenous leaders support the legislation as a means to bring more money and jobs to their communities, others have raised concerns about giving the cabinet too much power to choose major projects. The legislation states that the government will recognize, affirm, and respect Indigenous peoples’ constitutional rights during the project consideration process. However, some leaders fear that the consultation process may not be adequate given the tight timeline for making decisions on projects.
Indigenous Senator Paul Prosper from Nova Scotia is planning to introduce an amendment in the Senate to give Indigenous peoples more time to provide input on the bill. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation is calling on the Governor General to intervene before giving royal assent to the legislation, although this is considered unlikely.
Despite the opposition, Prime Minister Carney remains committed to respecting the government’s legal obligations to Indigenous peoples and ensuring that communities have the opportunity to take an equity stake in proposed projects. The government’s goal is to balance the need for economic growth with Indigenous rights and environmental considerations as they work to expedite the approval process for major projects.
