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Assembly of First Nations Plans Emergency Session Over Fast-Track Major Projects Legislation

AFN leaders are consulting elders about the newly tabled legislation to assess its impact on Indigenous consultation concerning collective rights.

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Overview

  • National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak met Prime Minister Mark Carney on June 5 to express deep concerns over the bill’s accelerated timeline for project approvals.
  • The legislation proposes five national-interest criteria to evaluate major projects, covering success likelihood, national resilience, Indigenous interests, economic growth and environmental responsibility.
  • Former National Chief Phil Fontaine called for the emergency meeting, warning that government actions are trampling Indigenous rights.
  • AFN’s legal team began reviewing the bill with elders on June 6 ahead of the scheduled session to explore strategic and legal responses.
  • Leaders cautioned that failure to secure free, prior and informed consent could lead to extended litigation and potential widespread protests.