Prime minister announces members of Indigenous Advisory Council for major projects

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced members of the Indigenous Advisory Council who, the government says, will help guide the Major Projects Office on infrastructure projects across the country. “This Major Projects Office [MPO] will benefit from the leadership and guidance of the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) – eleven representatives from First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Modern Treaty and Self-Governing communities,” said Carney in a statement late Wednesday. “These leaders bring deep expertise and experience, and they will help guide the MPO’s work to ensure that major projects create opportunities for equity ownership and responsible resource management through meaningful participation with Indigenous Peoples.” The council is made up of seven First Nation, two Métis and two Inuit representatives. “Meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples is embedded in the Building Canada Act, both in the process of determining which projects are in our collective interest and in the development of the conditions for those projects going forward,” the statement said. “This law honours Section 35 of our Constitution and the duty to consult, and upholds the government’s commitment to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including free, prior, and informed consent.” The legislation allows Ottawa to push through projects of “national interest” and bypass, if cabinet chooses, already established pieces of environmental legislation and laws that protect wildlife. Any of these five criteria needs to be met. The project must “strengthen Canada’s autonomy, resilience and security; provide economic or other benefits to Canada; have a high likelihood of successful execution; advance the interests of Indigenous peoples; and contribute to clean growth and to meeting Canada’s objectives with respect to climate change.” A number of Indigenous leaders say the government should have consulted with them ahead of pushing the law through Parliament in just two weeks back in June. The only leader who spoke on the issue was Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak when she went before a Parliamentary Committee. During the summer, Carney sat down with First Nation, Inuit and Métis leaders from across the country. Some were supportive of the government’s plan while others were skeptical. According to the act, “the Minister must ensure that a process is established that allows for the active and meaningful participation of the affected Indigenous peoples and that a report of the consultation process and results is made available to the public within 60 days after the day on which a document is issued under subsection,” but active and meaning participation is not defined in the act. Ottawa’s one-stop shop for businesses to pitch plans for large industrial construction projects will be headquartered in Calgary and managed by former Trans Mountain CEO Dawn Farrell, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Aug. 29. “Today marks a significant step forward in our mission to build Canada strong, working with Indigenous Peoples and in recognition of their leadership in energy and natural resource projects nationwide. The creation of the Indigenous Advisory Council embodies our commitment to honouring Indigenous knowledge and stewardship in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for all Canadians,” said Mandy Gull Masty, minister of Indigenous Services Canada in the statement. “I look forward to working with the Council. Together, we will build a future that respects the land and the generations to come.” According to the PMO, members of IAC are appointed for an initial two-year term and will meet a “minimum” of four times a year in person.” Here are the members: Kluane Adamek, Kluane First Nation, Yukon Chief Darcy Bear, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Saskatchewan Vanessa Doig, Makivvik, Nunavik, Northern Québec JP Gladu, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, Ontario Victoria LaBillois, Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation, Québec Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi, Beaver First Nation (Treaty 8), Alberta Chief Terry Paul, Membertou First Nation, Nova Scotia Lorne Pelletier, Manitoba Métis Federation, Manitoba Christy Sinclair, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Nunavut Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation, British Columbia Matt Vermette, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Continue Reading