In an unprecedented show of unity, First Nations leaders from across Canada have taken a firm stance against Finance Minister Mark Carney’s controversial Major Projects Bill, citing fundamental concerns about Indigenous rights and environmental protection. The high-stakes confrontation occurred yesterday during a closed-door meeting in Ottawa, where Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse led a delegation of regional chiefs in presenting their objections directly to the finance minister.
“This bill represents a significant step backward in Crown-Indigenous relations,” Woodhouse stated following the three-hour meeting. “Despite the government’s claims, this legislation fails to honor the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and threatens to undermine decades of progress on reconciliation.”
The Major Projects Bill, formally introduced last month as part of the Liberal government’s economic growth strategy, aims to accelerate approval processes for infrastructure projects deemed critical to national interests. Carney has repeatedly championed the legislation as essential for Canada’s economic competitiveness, particularly in renewable energy and critical minerals sectors.
However, Indigenous leaders have identified substantial flaws in the bill’s approach to consultation and consent. Manitoba Regional Chief Kevin Hart emphasized that the legislation creates concerning shortcuts around established environmental assessment processes. “What we’re seeing is a fundamental misunderstanding of what meaningful consultation actually requires,” Hart explained. “Consultation isn’t a box to be checked—it’s a constitutional obligation that demands good faith engagement and substantive accommodation.”
The chiefs’ position paper, obtained by CO24 News, outlines specific concerns that the bill could effectively override Indigenous decision-making authority on traditional territories. This directly contradicts Canada’s commitment to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was enshrined in federal law in 2021.
When approached for comment, Minister Carney’s office issued a statement reaffirming the government’s commitment to Indigenous reconciliation while maintaining that the legislation contains adequate protections. “We believe this bill strikes the right balance between advancing critical national infrastructure and respecting Indigenous rights,” the statement read.
Environmental law experts have also raised questions about the bill’s provisions. Professor Deborah Curran from the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre told CO24 that the legislation could potentially circumvent crucial environmental safeguards. “The streamlining mechanisms in this bill could undermine the thorough environmental assessment processes that have been developed over decades,” Curran noted.
The confrontation comes at a particularly sensitive time for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, which has faced criticism for its handling of other Indigenous files while simultaneously promoting its reconciliation agenda.
First Nations leaders have indicated they are prepared to escalate their opposition if substantial changes aren’t made to the legislation. “We’re not opposed to development,” Chief Woodhouse clarified. “We’re opposed to development that fails to respect our rights, our sovereignty, and our responsibilities as stewards of these lands.”
As this legislative battle unfolds in Ottawa, a fundamental question emerges for all Canadians: How can we balance legitimate economic development objectives with the equally important imperatives of environmental protection and respect for Indigenous rights in a nation still working toward reconciliation?
