Ottawa sets agenda for July 17 meeting with chiefs on controversial One Canadian Economy Law

Ottawa is telling First Nations chiefs to submit their questions in advance of next week’s meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss his government’s controversial major projects bill. A draft agenda for the meeting shared with APTN News sets out what chiefs can expect for the two-day meeting to be held Jan.16 and 17 at the Museum of History in Gatineau. The One Canadian Economy Law, formerly known as Bill C-5, allows the cabinet to quickly grant federal approvals for big industrial projects like mines, ports, and pipelines by sidestepping existing laws. On June 20, Carney promised to meet with First Nations after chiefs said their rights were not respected by the rush to push the bill through Parliament. The meeting begins with a half-day session on July 16, with opening prayers and remarks from ministers—although it does not say which ministers—and then a 50-minute technical briefing about the new law.. Chiefs will then have one hour, from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., to ask questions. The workday is set to wrap at 5 p.m. after closing ceremonies. However, there will be an evening reception. Day 2 of the meeting opens with a breakfast and some ceremony. Prime Minister Carney will address chiefs for 15 minutes at 9 a.m., followed by the Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. After that, there is an 80-minute working session described as “Open Dialogue on Meaningful Consultation,” followed by an hour-long working session on the soon-to-be-created Major Projects Office and the Indigenous Advisory Council.  The One Economy Act enables the creation of the new ministry which is supposed to be a faster one-window approval mechanism for projects of ‘national interest.’ The Prime Minister also promised in a press release that the Major Projects Office would include an advisory council made up of First Nations Inuit and Métis. The afternoon has two more working sessions: one described as “First Nations Economic Prosperity and Partnership,” and the second, “Working Together,” is promised as a moderated discussion with the prime minister. One chief who decided not to attend said the meeting time will be too short for chiefs to address concerns with the law.  “I  didn’t see the utility in going and I’m not sure what’s gonna be accomplished by a one day meeting in terms of  the issues are of such importance and, and of great magnitude,” said Chief Wilfred King of the Gull Bay First Nation in Ontario.  Meanwhile, Canadian Press is reporting that an invitation to the Jan. 17 meeting shared with them shows the government is asking participants to submit their questions in advance, and that they have the option to vote on questions posed by their peers. The invitation says that process will help highlight “shared priorities and bring the most pressing issues to the forefront” of the engagement session being used for broad consultations. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says chiefs are united ahead of the meeting and are still alarmed at the way the legislation was pushed through Parliament with little input from First Nations. With files from the Canadian Press. Continue Reading