‘No good way’ to build major projects without First Nations partnership, natural resource minister tells AFN

The Assembly of First Nations convened today to discuss what they say is inadequate consultation from Ottawa to build on their lands. Rachel Aiello reports.

OTTAWA — Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources told a room of chiefs on Thursday that in his mind “there is no good way to build major projects without First Nations partnership and leadership.”

Amid tension over Prime Minister Mark Carney’s promise to meaningfully consult Indigenous communities, while also angling to expedite approvals for new major energy and infrastructure projects in this country, Minister Tim Hodgson made a point of re-iterating this position.

“There is no good way to build major projects without First Nations partnership and leadership. Full stop. I’ll say it again, there is no good way to build major projects without First Nations partnership and leadership,” Hogdson said.

He was speaking at the Assembly of First Nations’ annual general assembly in Ottawa, alongside Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty.

“Today, we see First Nations are builders, owners, and partners in some of the most important energy, infrastructure, and resource projects we have underway in this country,” Hodgson continued.

“That work and the real projects are creating jobs and prosperity that can be handed down to future generations. First Nations direct participation is improving projects by ensuring they are built in a way that protects and honours the land, traditions, and the environment and the communities in which they are built.”

Along these lines, the trio of ministers took turns attempting to offer reassurance to First Nations leadership about the federal government’s intent to uphold its obligation to work with their communities and bring them along throughout the process of any major development.

“The prime minister has been clear with us; the approach has to be full partnership from the beginning of the conversations,” said minister LeBlanc.

Citing the recent memorandum of understanding between British Columbia and Canada, as well as the Alberta Pathways project, as examples, LeBlanc said the conversation would start once projects “become real, and not somebody’s conversation in a meeting in some hotel meeting room somewhere in Canada.”

At several points during the panel, Carney’s cabinet members sought to make it clear that they don’t view consultation as being a box to check off along the way, but rather an effort to ensure Indigenous peoples’ rights are respected and prosperity is shared.

Chiefs that CTV News spoke with at the AFN assembly earlier in the week made it clear that despite similar past assurances from the federal government, they are still waiting to see what that materially looks like in practice.

Ministers get an earful from chiefs

During the portion of the panel where First Nations leaders were able to take to the microphone and raise concerns and ask questions of the ministers, LeBlanc, Hodgson and Alty got an earful, mainly about major projects and the government’s plans to speed-up regulatory and environmental assessment processes.

“Economic growth and First Nations rights cannot be placed in competition with each other. It’s not an either-or,” said Shana Thomas, hereditary chief of Lyackson First Nation, in B.C.

Speaking about facing “increasing pressure” about major project proposals, including around marine shipping, she expressed frustration about “decisions made in Ottawa” having direct impacts “on our waters, our fisheries, our culture and heritage.”

“We as First Nations cannot be expected to continually quietly absorb colonial violence and distrust against our people in our territories while we act as though it’s all in the good of the economy. It is 2026, and the days of the Crown running roughshod over our rights of title are over,” Thomas said.

Chief Wilfred Adam, representing the Lake Babine Nation in B.C., raised the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission proposal for a pipeline that would extensively go through their territory, and expressed concerns about potential impacts on the local salmon population.

“We need proper consultation,” he said. “As the minister you’ve said that you have no better way to talk to First Nations about major projects. Proper consultation is the most effective way in dealing with us.”

As these comments were made, the minsters were taking notes on stage, and took turns responding at the end, all indicating they appreciated the feedback, and acknowledging there is still work to be done.

In his response to concerns raised about the proposed further legislative changes to speed-up approvals with a one-project-one-review approach, LeBlanc sought to clarify that such a move would only apply to federal-provincial co-operation and “in no way does that diminish the responsibility of the government of Canada to uphold the constitutional rights of Indigenous peoples.”