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Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
No consensus among First Nations after meeting with premiers about major projects
HUNTSVILLE, Ont. — Canada's premiers pledged economic reconciliation with Indigenous people through major infrastructure and resource projects as they kicked off three days of meetings on Monday, but several First Nation leaders say they were disappointed with the discussion. The premiers have gathered at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., to talk trade and tariffs, particularly when they meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Mark Carney. But first they held a meeting with leaders from First Nation leaders that included the Assembly of First Nations, Anishinabek Nation and the Native Women's Association of Canada, among other Indigenous groups. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. That meeting came as Indigenous communities have expressed concerns with federal and provincial laws meant to fast-track major infrastructure projects as a way to stimulate the economy amid U.S. tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says they cannot move ahead with major projects if a particular First Nation does not agree to them, adding that he'll wait for others to take some time to decide on so-called 'nation-building projects.' Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the meeting was productive while Anishinabek First Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige says the meeting was disappointing, with little accomplished. The premiers have agreed to meet together with Indigenous leadership and the prime minister to further discuss their concerns. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here .
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
No consensus among First Nations after meeting with premiers about major projects
HUNTSVILLE, Ont. — Canada's premiers pledged economic reconciliation with Indigenous people through major infrastructure and resource projects as they kicked off three days of meetings on Monday, but several First Nation leaders say they were disappointed with the discussion. Article content The premiers have gathered at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., to talk trade and tariffs, particularly when they meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Article content Article content But first they held a meeting with leaders from First Nation leaders that included the Assembly of First Nations, Anishinabek Nation and the Native Women's Association of Canada, among other Indigenous groups. Article content Article content That meeting came as Indigenous communities have expressed concerns with federal and provincial laws meant to fast-track major infrastructure projects as a way to stimulate the economy amid U.S. tariffs. Article content Ontario Premier Doug Ford says they cannot move ahead with major projects if a particular First Nation does not agree to them, adding that he'll wait for others to take some time to decide on so-called 'nation-building projects.' Article content Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the meeting was productive while Anishinabek First Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige says the meeting was disappointing, with little accomplished. Article content The premiers have agreed to meet together with Indigenous leadership and the prime minister to further discuss their concerns. Article content
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
ITK will not attend meeting with premiers, citing presence of ‘fraudulent collectives'
Inuit Tapariit Kanatami has declined an invitation to attend a meeting between national Indigenous leaders and premiers of Canada's provinces and territories being held in Huntsville, Ont., this week, saying non-rights-holding groups will also be attending. The three-day meeting starts July 21 and includes all 13 provincial and territorial premiers and 'follows a pattern of the Council of the Federation to include organizations that represent fraudulent collectives that falsely claim to represent Inuit,' said an ITK news release issued Thursday. 'We continue to encourage Canada's premiers to respect Inuit democratic governance, our constitutional rights and our right to self-determination.' The news release does not specify any groups and ITK spokesperson Patricia D'Souza declined to elaborate. Instead, she said: 'Our position on fraudulent collectives is well-documented.' ITK president Natan Obed was not available for an interview. This is not the first time ITK, which is the national organization representing Inuit in Canada, has skipped a meeting of the Council of Federation, which is the name of the organization of the heads of Canada's provincial and territorial governments. In 2023, ITK president Natan Obed declined the invitation to the meeting in Winnipeg and along with Cassidy Caron, president of the Métis National Council, criticized the federation for allowing Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and Native Women's Association of Canada to attend. Those two organizations are once again on the list of invitees for this week's meeting. 'ITK generally welcomes any opportunity to share Inuit priorities with territorial and provincial leaders, but any such meeting should be done with clear objectives and be respectful of Inuit governance,' Obed said at the time. The National Chief of the the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Brendan Moore called ITK decision 'unfortunate,' in an email to Nunatsiaq News on Friday. 'We respect their decision and wish them well in their continued efforts,' said Moore. Representatives Native Women's Association of Canada declined to comment. Over the years, ITK has opposed participation in public or government engagement events with groups it considers illegitimate. In 2024, the Northern Lights Business and Cultural Showcase was cancelled because of ITK's concerns about the involvement of the NunatuKavut Community Council, a collective representing approximately 6,000 people in northern Labrador who claim to be Inuit . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
2 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Premiers and First Nations meet in Ontario amid legal action over Bill 5, Bill C-5
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is leading the country's premiers in a potentially tense meeting with a number of important First Nation groups as a push to streamline approvals and boost the economy in the face of tariffs from the United States creates ruptures in the relationship. Monday's meeting will include Canada's premiers and leaders from the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and the Native Women's Association of Canada, among other Indigenous groups, for a closed-door discussion. Ahead of the talks, Victoria Pruden, president of the Métis National Council, said the country must balance 'the needs for economic participation that benefits Métis and their citizens and making sure those benefits don't come at the expense of duty to consult, consultation, respect for Indigenous rights holders in general.' The event, held on the edges of the Council of the Federation in Huntsville, Ont., comes at a time when tensions between First Nations leaders and the Crown are high. Story continues below advertisement Last week, a coalition of nine Ontario First Nations lodged a fast-track legal action against the Ford and Carney governments over Bill 5 and Bill C-5, two recent pieces of legislation that give the provincial and federal governments unprecedented power. Bill 5 is the Ontario version, and Bill C-5 is federal. Both laws include elements that allow cabinet ministers to designate areas or projects as so important that they can bypass environmental and labour laws, regulations and other approvals. The legal action asks a court to throw out the entirety of Ontario's Bill 5 and strike out major sections of the federal law. It also threatens injunctions against any projects or areas where the government announces that laws can be bypassed. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Asked about the action on Monday, barely an hour before he was due to sit down with First Nations leaders, Ford suggested the lawsuit had been filed by a minority. 'I understand that's nine out of what, across the country, 400 or so?' he said, speaking to reporters outside Deerhurst Resort beside Huntsville. 'We're going to work with them. We want everyone to have an opportunity, I want everyone to prosper, and when they're sitting there, and they're living on diesel and they don't have electricity … they don't have clean water, these are the things we're going to focus on. We're going to support them.' Story continues below advertisement One of the nine chiefs who brought the legal action last week previously said he thought Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney didn't understand the complexities of their concerns. Related News Canadian leaders descend upon Ontario cottage country for high stakes meetings 'I would say they're less informed,' Alderville First Nation Chief Taynar Simpson said last Thursday. 'I would say they need to do some homework on these issues. They need to go back to the history books, they need to listen to elders, they need to listen to First Nations.' Ford and one of his cabinet ministers have both been forced to apologize to First Nations leaders in recent weeks. The first time came after Ford made comments about First Nations 'coming cap in hand,' for which he apologized. Then, his environment minister had to issue an apology after he asked the federal government to stand down clean drinking water legislation. Ford repeated his offer to work with First Nations on Monday, promising prosperity through partnership. 'The door is open for them, they're welcome to walk through that door and partner with the entire country, partner with Ontario to make their lives more prosperous than they've ever seen before,' he said. 'That's going to be their choice. I welcome them to make sure they take advantage of the $3 billion.' As part of the 2025 budget, the Ford government announced $3.1 billion in loans, grants and scholarships to 'support Indigenous participation, partnership and ownership in Ontario's critical mineral supply chain.' Story continues below advertisement On Monday, Ford added: 'I take care of them, and I want to make sure they prosper.' The meeting between the First Nations leaders and premiers began around 12:30 p.m. and is expected to run for roughly three hours. — with a file from The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Premiers meet with Indigenous groups on first day of three-day Ontario gathering
HUNTSVILLE, ONT. - Canada's premiers are pledging economic reconciliation with Indigenous people as they head into discussions with First Nations, Métis and Inuit groups at a three-day meeting in cottage country north of Toronto. The premiers have gathered at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., to talk trade and tariffs, particularly when they meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Mark Carney. But first they are set to have discussions with leaders from the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and the Native Women's Association of Canada, among other Indigenous groups. That meeting comes as Indigenous communities have expressed concerns with federal and provincial laws meant to fast-track major infrastructure projects as a way to stimulate the economy facing tariff impacts. 'We think this is a great opportunity for economic reconciliation with First Nations,' Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Monday. 'We're going to make sure that they prosper like they've never had before and the door is open for them,' Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. 'They're welcome to walk through that door and partner with the entire country and partner with Ontario to make their lives more prosperous than they've ever seen before. That's gonna be their choice.' Smith and Ford said time is tight as the country needs to move fast in the trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump. But two new laws aimed at stimulating the economy have sparked outrage from many First Nations who want meaningful consultation on major projects in their territories. The federal law known as Bill C-5 allows cabinet to quickly grant federal approvals for big projects deemed to be in the national interest by sidestepping existing laws, while Ontario's Bill 5 allows its cabinet to suspend provincial and municipal laws through the creation of so-called 'special economic zones.' Nine Ontario First Nations have filed a court challenge to the laws. Carney hosted a meeting with hundreds of First Nations chiefs last week and while some chiefs walked out saying they saw an insufficient response to concerns they'd been raising for weeks, others left the meeting 'cautiously optimistic.' Smith said the lengthy regulatory approval process for pipelines and mineral extraction has been a problem and she believes governments can shorten that time frame while also consulting with First Nations. 'I think in this new world that we're in, we have to figure out a way to get to 'yes' faster. It doesn't mean that there isn't a robust consultation that has to happen, but it has to happen in a time frame where a proponent is going to know that the answer is yes and how we get there,' she said. Grand Chief Kyra Wilson of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has asked the prime minister and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to formally include First Nations' regional representation at Tuesday's meeting with the premiers and Carney. 'These discussions can't happen without us. First Nations aren't just affected by international trade decisions, they are directly involved in the regions, the economies, and the lands these decisions will touch,' Wilson said in a statement. 'We are governing nations with existing mandates and responsibilities. Ignoring that weakens the response and risks repeating the same mistakes we've seen for decades.' Ford has said that over the course of their meeting this week, the premiers will also talk about emergency management, energy security, sovereignty and national security, health and public safety. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025. -with files from Alessia Passafiume in Ottawa
