OTTAWA – A contentious Liberal government bill designed to fast-track major economic projects, Bill C-5, officially cleared the Senate on Thursday. The legislation has ignited significant opposition from Indigenous leaders, who caution that its implementation without proper respect for their rights and title could trigger widespread protests and legal battles.
Bill C-5 empowers the federal government to accelerate projects deemed vital for national economic growth by bypassing existing environmental protections and other legislative requirements. While an earlier iteration of the bill would have allowed Ottawa to circumvent the Indian Act, that specific provision was removed before its passage.
The politically charged nature of the legislation has drawn strong condemnation from both Indigenous and environmental groups. Critics accuse the government of rushing to grant itself broad new powers, ostensibly to expedite development, without adequate consultation or safeguards.
Despite ministers defending Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “nation-building” bill and efforts to expedite its passage through Parliament, numerous Indigenous leaders had urged lawmakers to slow the process. Their aim was to allow Indigenous communities more time to propose amendments and conduct thorough legal reviews of the legislation.
Within the Senate, a group of senators attempted to bolster protections for Indigenous Peoples within the bill, but their efforts ultimately failed. Notably, Senator Paul Prosper, a Mi’kmaq representative, proposed an amendment that would have mandated the explicit free, prior, and informed consent of affected communities for project approval. This crucial amendment, however, did not pass.
Senator Prosper voiced his concerns during a Senate floor speech, stating, “We are appointed so that we are outside of the pressures of the electoral cycle and able to stand on principle against poorly drafted legislation.” He further expressed discomfort with arguments against amendments based on fears of turning public opinion, emphasizing Indigenous leaders’ strong opposition to the bill.
The legislation’s journey through Parliament has been swift, having been fast-tracked through the House of Commons before its introduction in the upper chamber just yesterday.