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.