First Nations urge Governor General to delay — or even reject — Bill C-5

Olivia Stefanovich · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 19, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

The Assembly of First Nations nationalist main is among a chorus of First Nations leaders urging Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to intervene successful the national government's large projects authorities being "rammed through" Parliament.

"First Nations are united," said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. "They privation prosperity, but they don't privation it astatine the disbursal of our rights."

Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, volition apt walk successful the House of Commons connected Friday with enactment from the Conservatives.

Some First Nations leaders accidental that shouldn't hap until Simon, the archetypal Indigenous idiosyncratic appointed to the role, addresses their concerns.

"She is the Crown typical and I deliberation she should beryllium involved," said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who represents 49 First Nations successful bluish Ontario.

"I'm hoping she's paying attraction to what's happening present truthful that she tin deliberation astir intervening."

WATCH | 'It's her work to perceive us':

The national authorities says Bill C-5 will fortify Canada's economy, arsenic the state fights a commercialized warfare and tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The archetypal portion of the authorities aims to destruct each remaining national barriers to home escaped trade, which is thing Prime Minister Mark Carney promised by Canada Day. The 2nd would assistance sweeping powers to the authorities to velocity up approvals for infrastructure and vigor projects deemed successful the nationalist interest.

'Not a bully mode to start'

Woodhouse Nepinak said immoderate First Nations fearfulness the measure volition let the authorities to trample pact rights and override biology assessments.

C-5 says the authorities indispensable consult Indigenous people whose rights whitethorn beryllium adversely affected by a fast-tracked project. But it besides allows furniture to overrule immoderate enactment of Parliament for definite large projects.

The AFN nationalist main is calling for Simon to measurement in, and for the measure to beryllium divided truthful First Nations tin person much clip to reappraisal the large projects section.

"Things are being rammed done and that's not a bully mode to commencement a caller government, a caller relationship," she said.

The Governor General's office told CBC News that since C-5 is inactive moving done Parliament, it is not yet nether information for royal assent.

"All questions connected authorities successful improvement should beryllium directed to government," said Rideau Hall spokesperson Marilyne Guèvremont.

The measure was moving done the House of Commons committee signifier connected Wednesday.

"Proponents who don't prosecute with Indigenous radical earlier bringing their projects guardant for information nether this authorities volition beryllium fixed a little evaluation," Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty told the House transport, infrastructure and communities committee. 

"We'll beryllium looking for projects that person Indigenous enactment and, adjacent better, Indigenous equity."

Sol Mamakwa, NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong successful northwestern Ontario, said First Nations person heard promises earlier — lone to spot them broken.

He wants Simon to garbage giving the authorities royal assent. 

"[Governments] deliberation it's their land. But it's our land," said Mamakwa, subordinate of Kingfisher Lake First Nation. "We're expected to stock the benefits."

Avoiding a law crisis

Eric Adams, prof of instrumentality astatine the University of Alberta, said Simon can't intervene successful legislation without triggering a law crisis. But Adams said she tin perceive to First Nations' concerns.

"She tin beryllium a conduit for conversations," helium said. "She tin sometimes springiness immoderate quiescent proposal to the premier curate down closed doors."

He said that proposal indispensable beryllium delivered without "looking similar she's taking peculiar sides oregon that she's acting inappropriately successful a governmental manner."

WATCH | Can C-5 bring economical reconciliation?: 

"But her bureau is not meant to beryllium a turret successful a castle precocious connected the hill," Adams said. "She's meant to beryllium disposable for Canadians to conscionable with and to consult. So she has to locomotion that enactment carefully."

He said the courts are a much due venue to contention C-5.

"The Governor General is not the place," Adams said.

WATCH | Government defends large projects bill: 

Ontario First Nations chiefs organized a objection connected Parliament Hill Tuesday against the projected legislation. 

Scott McLeod, Lake Huron determination main of the Anishinabek Nation, is vowing much action. 

"I deliberation what we're going to spot from contiguous connected is simply a grassroots question that they can't ignore," said McLeod. 

"First Nations person the quality to unopen down the economy.… we're going to fight."

When asked if the absorption to Bill C-5 could crook into a movement like Idle No More in 2012 — which triggered countrywide protests including roadworthy and obstruction blockades — McLeod said: "I judge it already is."