Carney promises new First Nations measures ahead of federal budget

Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised new measures and investments for First Nations in the federal budget, which is due on Nov. 5. He made the commitment at a meeting in Ottawa on Monday that brought together premiers and First Nations leaders.

The Assembly of First Nations, a national organization that represents First Nations, billed the Ottawa gathering as the first time premiers and the prime minister had met exclusively with First Nations leaders. Similar past gatherings have historically included leaders of the Inuit and Métis peoples. Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is the assembly's national chief.

In his remarks, Carney referred to Ksi Lisims LNG, a liquefied natural gas facility in British Columbia led by the Nisga'a Nation. Eva Clayton, president of the Nisga'a, said she supports the government's push for natural resource development. Ksi Lisims was one of the developments identified for priority decision-making under Bill C-5, the federal law meant to speed up approvals for select resource projects. Bill C-5 was the government's first law of that kind.

A second measure, Bill C-39, is before the House of Commons. It would give all new projects a single federal review and a decision within one year. Woodhouse Nepinak raised concerns that this approval deadline is too tight to allow for proper consultation, the process of engaging affected Indigenous communities before a decision is made.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon did not attend Monday's meeting. Both cited other commitments.