Assembly of First Nations (AFN) chiefs have unanimously voted to oppose the Carney government’s proposed reforms to speed up approvals for major projects if the changes weaken environmental protections or ignore First Nations rights.
The federal government wants to reduce approval times for projects such as pipelines to one year and create a new Crown Consultation Hub to coordinate discussions with Indigenous communities.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said faster timelines cannot come at the expense of Indigenous rights. She told chiefs that governments cannot place deadlines on First Nations’ rights or meaningful consultation.
Chiefs approved a resolution rejecting any reforms that weaken environmental oversight, limit consultation, shorten review timelines, or bypass the requirement for the free, prior and informed consent of First Nations.
The federal government said it wants to speed up project decisions while maintaining strong environmental standards and respecting Indigenous rights.
Chiefs also discussed a planned meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s premiers on Oct. 26, where they plan to push for stronger recognition of First Nations’ rights and a greater role in decisions affecting their lands.
The assembly also raised concerns about Bill C-37, the federal government’s proposed drinking water legislation for First Nations. Some chiefs argue the bill weakens protections for water sources and reduces recognition of First Nations’ authority over water, while the federal government says the changes were made to strengthen the legislation.
