Some First Nations leaders frustrated after meeting with PM Carney at Bill C-5 summit

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney Thursday on Bill C-5, some First Nations leaders say they were not impressed with the sit-down.

At the center of the two-day meet was the controversial law Bill C-5, which allows Ottawa to fast-track major projects that it deems to be of national interest.

Carney expressed his optimism about finding a consensus about the agenda item, but the meeting was held behind closed doors, with no media present.

The Assembly of First Nations said it advocated for the entire meeting to be made public, but there were criticisms about a number of chiefs not being able to have long and direct conversations with the prime minister and cabinet.

Indigenous leaders have expressed frustrations, having said their rights were not respected by the government pushing the legislation through parliament.

The law allows the cabinet to quickly grant federal approvals for big industrial projects, which includes sidestepping existing laws.

Carney took questions prior to Thursday’s meeting, adding that the meeting wasn’t about discussing actual projects.

He said he would engage with First Nations and called their meeting a “process.”

“Everyone wants to make the country better,” said Carney. “Everyone wants better opportunities for their children, everyone wants more resources for social services, for health, education, and community services.”

“And the question is about where what we’re for [sic], and which projects will help achieve those goals. There will be lots of projects that will fall by the wayside because they [First Nations] don’t meet conditions, because theirs isn’t an alignment of interest, but it’s about how we establish a process in order to achieve goals,” said Carney.

The prime minister says he is planning to hold similar meetings with Inuit and Métis leadership in the coming weeks.

There are no details yet on a date and time for those meetings.

Carney also pledges to launch a regional dialogue with First Nations and further consultation processes.

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