Some First Nations worry Carney's major projects bill will only lead to more conflict

David Thurton · CBC News

· Posted: May 30, 2025 6:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: 25 minutes ago

Some First Nations are raising concerns astir the national government's program to supply up-front approvals for large projects, with 1 expansive main calling it a "fool's errand."

Through interviews and letters CBC News obtained, First Nations are raising reddish flags with the Liberal government's plans to fast-track what it calls projects successful the nationalist interest.

The authorities is inactive consulting with Indigenous communities, premiers and industry, but is expected to array "one Canadian economy" authorities arsenic aboriginal arsenic adjacent week.

"While you tin legislate to fast-track regulation, you cannot fast-track the Crown's duties oregon fast-track Indigenous acceptance," states Savanna McGregor, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council successful a missive to the Privy Council Office (PCO).

WATCH | Grand main connected fast-tracking projects: 

"Trying to bash truthful is simply a fool's errand due to the fact that it would pb to more, not less, imaginable conflict, including preclusive litigation."

CBC News contacted the PCO on Friday evening for a petition for remark astir McGregor's concerns, but did not person a effect by work time.

McGregor represents 7 nations successful Quebec and Ontario.

The PCO is the pb subdivision of the civilian work providing enactment to Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet. The bureau has been sending letters to Indigenous leaders, asking for feedback connected projected authorities that would fast-track large projects, specified arsenic ports, atomic facilities and mines.

CBC News obtained a document shared with First Nations that states Carney's authorities intends to "facilitate the recognition of projects" that are successful the nationalist interest, "provide certainty done up-front regulatory approvals" and found a "major projects office."

During the national election, Carney campaigned connected rendering last decisions connected projects wrong a two-year timeline alternatively of 5 years and a "one window" attack that shifts "the absorption of task reappraisal from 'why' to 'how.'" Those priorities were included successful Tuesday's code from the throne.

WATCH | Carney connected his government's priorities: 

The missive gave First Nations a week to remark connected the briefing note, which spells retired however the projected authorities would work. Friday was the deadline to comment.

"Obviously, it is rather concerning," said Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi successful an interrogation with CBC News. "There's not overmuch clip to respond and strategize."

Treaty 8 is the largest treaty by country and encompasses parts of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and northwest Saskatchewan. Many of its sovereign nations are successful the bosom of Canada's oilpatch or live with its nonstop biology impacts.

Mercredi said that erstwhile governments speech astir removing the reddish portion and different barriers that dilatory down the support of projects, First Nations similar his interest Indigenous rights volition beryllium pushed aside.

"We're wondering which absorption it's going to go," Mercredi said. 

He said 1 spot this could extremity up is successful court.

WATCH | Poilievre's presumption connected the projected bill: 

Groups backed by industry, however, are looking favourably astatine the government's proposal. Although they inactive request to spot the legislation, immoderate judge the Liberal authorities seems to beryllium moving successful the close direction.

The caput of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, which counts fossil substance companies arsenic its members, said it would people a "positive step."

"We've heard the aforesaid vexation from concern leaders crossed Canada, specifically successful Alberta, astir however we're falling down globally connected attracting capital, and this authorities could greatly assistance reverse that inclination if it's enacted successful a timely manner," said Shauna Feth, CEO of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, successful an interrogation with the CBC's The House.

However, liquefied earthy state advocacy radical Energy for a Secure Future questions whether Ottawa is picking winners and losers. The group's caput suggested that the Liberal authorities should see circumstantial sectors it wants to spot projects in, specified arsenic captious mineral mines, alternatively than favouring circumstantial projects.

"So I deliberation the authorities successful signalling successful that mode tin execute its akin goals without putting the spotlight connected immoderate circumstantial projects, and I deliberation that volition pull much projects," said Shannon Joseph, the seat of Energy for a Secure Future.

Premiers are pitching projects similar the 'Hunger Games'

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt told CBC's Power and Politics that provinces person submitted their priorities up of the archetypal ministers' gathering with Carney successful Saskatoon adjacent week.

Holt told big David Cochrane that 1 of her province's "big asks" is the strengthening of its commercialized infrastructure astatine the ports of Saint John and Belledune.

WATCH | N.B. premier connected task proposals: 

The New Brunswick premier besides said East Coast premiers collectively are pitching determination opportunities to Ottawa. She was reticent to "let the feline retired of the bag" connected what those could be, but she hinted they are energy-focused.  

She joked that it's similar the "Hunger Games," earlier admitting not each provinces volition get the projects they privation connected the fast-tracked list. 

She expects that by the extremity of the discussions connected Monday, determination volition beryllium clarity connected which ones the authorities volition initially proceed with.