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Ottawa Requires Pre-Submitted Questions Ahead of First Nations Summit

It aims to address rights concerns before consultations with Inuit and Métis following First Nations unity on Bill C-5

Image
A demonstrator, standing next to a police officer, holds a flag during a protest in front of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario against the federal government’s Bill C-5, as members of the Canadian Armed Forces fire cannons in the background during a celebration marking Canada Day, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Wa Lone

Overview

  • First Nations chiefs must submit their questions by 23:59 ET on July 16 to prepare for the July 17 session at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau
  • The invitation allows chiefs to endorse or upvote peers’ submissions to highlight shared priorities during discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney
  • Bill C-5 authorizes cabinet to fast-track federal approvals for major industrial and infrastructure projects by bypassing existing statutes and environmental protections
  • Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says chiefs remain united in alarm over the bill’s expedited parliamentary passage without adequate Indigenous input
  • Officials are planning follow-up meetings with Inuit and Métis leaders to address implementation concerns raised ahead of the First Nations summit