AFN national chief says fast-tracked projects bill should come with plan for infrastructure for reserves

OTTAWA — Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the federal government will need to present a plan for how to get more infrastructure built on First Nations reserves as it tries to soothe concerns from chiefs over new powers to fast-track major infrastructure projects.  Chiefs from across the country are preparing to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other senior ministers to discuss the Liberals’ plan to shorten the approvals process for projects like ports and pipelines. First Nations have voiced concerns that fast tracking could neglect their land and treaty rights. The meeting, set to take place on Thursday, was announced as the legislation, known as Bill C-5, was passed before the House of Commons broke for summer . Carney said he hoped to address chiefs’ concerns about ensuring the government upholds its duty to consult First Nations as it pledges to get more projects off the ground, facing economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. “I know Trump’s at our borders, pushing colonialism,” Woodhouse Nepinak told reporters at a press conference in the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) office in downtown Ottawa on Wednesday.  “We don’t need more colonialism in our country. What we need is to get back to the table and to talk about these really hard things.” Regional chiefs and other chiefs from different communities spoke during the press conference about the persistent issues that those living on First Nations face in terms of lack of access to clean drinking water, roads and housing, as well as the number of young people dying in communities — issues that former prime minister Justin Trudeau had pledged to address.  Woodhouse Nepinak said she hopes dealing with that infrastructure gap “is on the table in a very serious way,” adding that the AFN and others have produced different reports over the years that highlight the chronic issue.  The AFN, the country’s largest organization representing more than 600 First Nation communities, has been vocal in its concerns about the pace at which the Liberals introduced and passed the major projects legislation, but has not been directly involved in planning the upcoming gathering or selecting speakers. On Wednesday, some of the chiefs expressed concern about having received the agenda late on Tuesday. A copy seen by National Post shows the federal government plans to have Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc discuss the consultation requirements outlined in the law as well as how projects would be selected. Other ministers expected to attend are Natural Resources and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson as well as Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, who is expected to address the issue of consultations. Members of the Liberals’ Indigenous caucus are also expected to be on hand. Chiefs are also able to submit written questions.  Woodhouse Nepinak acknowledged the agenda was still evolving and some feel the upcoming meeting is “rushed,” but offered credit to Carney for agreeing with her ask to meet with chiefs, saying such a gathering ought to happen more often, given the last time she said one was staged was around 2012.  The national chief said she has heard a diversity of views about the Liberals’ plan to fast-track major infrastructure projects. While some chiefs have expressed concerns, she said others have expressed support. There have also been chiefs so consumed with dealing with other issues in their communities they do not yet have a position. “We’re going to give (Carney) the benefit of the doubt that he produces tomorrow,” Woodhouse Nepinak said.  “I think that he has to also listen to First Nations leadership, more listening, rather than talking about how they want to proceed forward.” The national chief and other First Nations leaders underlined how they saw Thursday’s meeting as only the beginning of talks and should not be considered an act of consultation, something Carney confirmed at an unrelated news conference about tariffs in Hamilton, Ont. He said the new law was “ enabling legislation” that allows discussions to take place about what constitutes a project to be “nation building” and the process that would follow to ensure rights-holders like First Nations would be consulted and be able to participate.  Under the law, the federal cabinet would decide which projects would be added to a list that would allow the approvals process to be fast tracked through a yet-to-be-developed major-projects office. Carney has said the goal is to give selected projects the green light within two years, down from the current five. Terry Teegee, a regional chief representing British Columbia for the Assembly of First Nations, said he had a more skeptical take about the upcoming meeting.  “If this is a success, I think it’s getting a solid commitment from the prime minister of discussions of how free, prior and informed consent will be implemented.” He said the problem lies in the fact there could be projects pitched “that are going to be very controversial.” “It’s those projects that I think the vast majority of chiefs are worried about.” Teegee named as an example Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s desire to see a pipeline built from Alberta to B.C.’s northern coast , a route that has received widespread pushback from some First Nations in the area in the past. “We’ve been down that road, and it’s a very difficult situation.” National Post staylor@postmedia.com

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