Latest news with #TerryTeegee
CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Trade war 'existential crisis' shouldn't fall on backs of First Nations, says BCAFN regional chief
B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee says lawmakers should not skirt around environmental assessments to fast-track major projects. He tells BC Today host Michelle Eliot that any response to the trade war with the U.S. must also uphold Indigenous rights.
National Observer
6 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
First Nations gather to meet with Carney over major projects law
First Nations leaders are meeting Thursday with Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal officials to discuss the controversial Bill C-5, which gave the federal government broad powers to fast-track major project approvals. The meeting came together quickly and chaotically, with many First Nations leaders noting the rushed process behind the bill. Indigenous leaders were not consulted on the new legislation, which they say runs roughshod over First Nations' rights and jurisdiction. The law grants cabinet the authority to override many environmental laws and regulations to get projects built if they are deemed to be in the national interest. At the meeting, Carney is scheduled to make a speech in the morning just before 9 a.m., followed by remarks from Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse. There will be four working sessions throughout the day, pencilled in for 1.5 hours each, on topics like economic participation and the Indigenous advisory council created by the legislation. An official from the national chief's office said media are not allowed to sit in on the summit. The AFN said it had pushed for media to have full access for the entire event. Media is only allowed to attend Carney's remarks. The meetings will occur just days after nine First Nations in Ontario launched a legal challenge on the constitutionality of Bill C-5 and are seeking an injunction to block the bill until the court rules on the legal challenge. Regional Chief of the British Columbia AFN Terry Teegee said at a Wednesday press conference that for the meetings to be a success, there must be a 'solid commitment' from Carney that free, prior and informed consent will be required as part of any development. 'He has to also listen to First Nations leadership — more listening, rather than talking about how they want to proceed forward,' Woodhouse said at the press conference. 'The problem here … is that there are, potentially, going to be projects that are going to be very controversial, and it's those projects that I think the vast majority of chiefs are worried about,' said BC Regional Chief Terry Teegee She emphasized that some communities are 'ready to go,' while others do not support it. Others are still so busy dealing with issues on the ground that they do not yet know where they land on this polarizing issue, she said. The government needs to listen to leaders and ensure communities receive funding support to get their lawyers and technicians involved in major projects, she added. The government has committed to providing $40 million for capacity-building around consultations for the projects it proposes. There are 634 recognized First Nations bands in Canada. In some cases, First Nations favourable to Bill C-5 may already have projects in their communities they want advanced, and those are probably already going through the approval process anyway, Teegee said. 'The problem here … is that there are, potentially, going to be projects that are going to be very controversial, and it's those projects that I think the vast majority of chiefs are worried about,' he said. Teegee noted that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is 'really pushing' for a pipeline to BC's north coast but said, 'We've been down that road, and it's a very difficult situation' to get approval for a project like that that requires approval from many First Nations. Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Na'Moks and the Coastal GasLink pipeline are emblematic of this issue. The 670-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline is now operational, but years of opposition and blockades plagued the project. Although the company reached agreements with First Nation band councils (including Wet'suwet'en elected chiefs) along the route, hereditary Wet'suwet'en chiefs, including Na'Moks, opposed the project at every turn. At a press conference Wednesday, Na'Moks told reporters he didn't receive an invitation to the summit until last night when he was already in transit to Ottawa, after deciding he would travel there with or without a formal invitation. At a press conference on Wednesday, Carney said this summit with First Nations leaders is about 'how this can work, how we work together, [and] what are the priorities.' This isn't a discussion about specific projects, he added, and when specific projects are on the table, there will be consultations and consultations on the conditions that must be fulfilled for the projects to proceed.
Hamilton Spectator
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Major projects will be slowed by court challenges if rights are violated: B.C. chief
OTTAWA - The regional chief for British Columbia said Wednesday that governments should not speed up major projects at the expense of First Nations rights — and warned that projects will be slowed down by court challenges if First Nations are not consulted from the start. 'We're asking the government to follow your own laws,' Terry Teegee said, citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that the federal government adopted. The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced major economic legislation last week. The bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the 'national interest.' Those criteria include the project's likelihood of success, whether it would strengthen the country's resiliency and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and whether it would contribute to economic growth in an environmentally responsible way. But First Nations leaders say their interests weren't considered when the legislation was being drafted and they were given just one week to review and bring comments forward on a briefing document on the bill. 'It's probably going to take a lot longer to get approval for some of these projects because we're going to end up in court,' Teegee said. 'This is where we end up.' The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations agreed. 'It's not about the bill itself. It's about the process. And I think that ramming something through when you should be hearing from Canadians, from industry, from First Nations … is the wrong way to go,' Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'You don't want to end back up in court. You don't want to have civil unrest. Why not just invite us to the table?' First Nations leaders have warned that widespread protests and blockades are possible if governments don't obtain affected Indigenous communities' free, prior and informed consent, as required by the UN declaration. The federal government has said that declaration doesn't amount to a veto — a statement Justice Minister Sean Fraser walked back last week following criticism from Woodhouse Nepinak. Teegee said 'no government has a veto, meaning that when we come to a decision, all governments come into the room to make a decision together.' 'First Nations, certainly as a part of this, need to be part of the decision-making process,' he added. Even groups that generally support development are raising concerns about the federal government's plan. Mark Podlasly, CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, said he was 'surprised' First Nations were only given seven days to review parts of the legislation before it was introduced. 'The answer will not automatically be 'no' from First Nations when a project comes along. It's just that Indigenous rights and involvement has to not only be included, but respected. That hasn't happened a lot in the Canadian past,' he said. 'There's also a question on the environment, and there's a question about who bears the impact of these projects if they're rushed through. It's going to be Indigenous Peoples, especially in parts of the country where there's mining or energy sources (on lands) that are integral to our lifestyle, our cultural practices.' Podlasly said that while the federal legislation 'seems to have Indigenous participation at its core,' it's not clear what that participation will look like, especially under the tight two-year approval timeline the government seeks. He said First Nations can support projects and many do — but they don't want to be 'caught at the back end' of decisions made without their knowledge or consent. 'We're all operating with seven days' notice. That's what we're operating with. And time will tell,' he said. The Assembly of First Nations is holding an emergency chiefs meeting on Monday to discuss what to do next. Woodhouse Nepinak vowed to follow their direction and said a legal review of the legislation is ongoing. 'We need time,' Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'And we're not being given that time.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. 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 .
CBC
11-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Major projects will be slowed by court challenges if rights are violated: First Nations chief
The regional chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations said Wednesday that governments should not speed up major projects at the expense of First Nations rights — and warned that projects will be slowed down by court challenges if First Nations are not consulted from the start. "We're asking the government to follow your own laws," Terry Teegee said, citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that the federal government adopted. The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced major economic legislation last week. The bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the "national interest." Those criteria include the project's likelihood of success, whether it would strengthen the country's resiliency and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and whether it would contribute to economic growth in an environmentally responsible way. WATCH | Teegee pulls out of trade mission over similar B.C. legislation: Why this First Nation chief pulled out of a B.C. trade mission 9 days ago Duration 12:10 Over the weekend, B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee announced he would not be attending a 10-day trade mission to East Asia with Premier David Eby. Teegee says his withdrawal was due to recent legislation from the province, meant to speed up infrastructure projects, which the chief says is not in compliance with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. But First Nations leaders say their interests weren't considered when the legislation was being drafted and they were given just one week to review and bring comments forward on a briefing document on the bill. "It's probably going to take a lot longer to get approval for some of these projects because we're going to end up in court," Teegee said. "This is where we end up." The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations agreed. "It's not about the bill itself. It's about the process. And I think that ramming something through when you should be hearing from Canadians, from industry, from First Nations … is the wrong way to go," Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said. "You don't want to end back up in court. You don't want to have civil unrest. Why not just invite us to the table?" WATCH | Carney's bill faces blowback: First Nations leaders have warned that widespread protests and blockades are possible if governments don't obtain affected Indigenous communities' free, prior and informed consent, as required by the UN declaration. The federal government has said that declaration doesn't amount to a veto — a statement Justice Minister Sean Fraser walked back last week following criticism from Woodhouse Nepinak. Teegee said "no government has a veto, meaning that when we come to a decision, all governments come into the room to make a decision together." "First Nations, certainly as a part of this, need to be part of the decision-making process," he added. Supporters also raise concerns Even groups that generally support development are raising concerns about the federal government's plan. Mark Podlasly, CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, said he was "surprised" First Nations were only given seven days to review parts of the legislation before it was introduced. "The answer will not automatically be 'no' from First Nations when a project comes along. It's just that Indigenous rights and involvement has to not only be included, but respected. That hasn't happened a lot in the Canadian past," he said. "There's also a question on the environment, and there's a question about who bears the impact of these projects if they're rushed through. It's going to be Indigenous Peoples, especially in parts of the country where there's mining or energy sources [on lands] that are integral to our lifestyle, our cultural practices." Podlasly said that while the federal legislation "seems to have Indigenous participation at its core," it's not clear what that participation will look like, especially under the tight two-year approval timeline the government seeks. He said First Nations can support projects and many do — but they don't want to be "caught at the back end" of decisions made without their knowledge or consent. "We're all operating with seven days' notice. That's what we're operating with. And time will tell," he said. The Assembly of First Nations is holding an emergency chiefs meeting on Monday to discuss what to do next. Woodhouse Nepinak vowed to follow their direction and said a legal review of the legislation is ongoing.
Toronto Star
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Major projects will be slowed by court challenges if rights are violated: B.C. chief
OTTAWA - The regional chief for British Columbia said Wednesday that governments should not speed up major projects at the expense of First Nations rights — and warned that projects will be slowed down by court challenges if First Nations are not consulted from the start. 'We're asking the government to follow your own laws,' Terry Teegee said, citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that the federal government adopted. The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced major economic legislation last week. The bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the 'national interest.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Those criteria include the project's likelihood of success, whether it would strengthen the country's resiliency and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and whether it would contribute to economic growth in an environmentally responsible way. But First Nations leaders say their interests weren't considered when the legislation was being drafted and they were given just one week to review and bring comments forward on a briefing document on the bill. 'It's probably going to take a lot longer to get approval for some of these projects because we're going to end up in court,' Teegee said. 'This is where we end up.' The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations agreed. 'It's not about the bill itself. It's about the process. And I think that ramming something through when you should be hearing from Canadians, from industry, from First Nations … is the wrong way to go,' Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'You don't want to end back up in court. You don't want to have civil unrest. Why not just invite us to the table?' First Nations leaders have warned that widespread protests and blockades are possible if governments don't obtain affected Indigenous communities' free, prior and informed consent, as required by the UN declaration. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The federal government has said that declaration doesn't amount to a veto — a statement Justice Minister Sean Fraser walked back last week following criticism from Woodhouse Nepinak. Teegee said 'no government has a veto, meaning that when we come to a decision, all governments come into the room to make a decision together.' 'First Nations, certainly as a part of this, need to be part of the decision-making process,' he added. Even groups that generally support development are raising concerns about the federal government's plan. Mark Podlasly, CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, said he was 'surprised' First Nations were only given seven days to review parts of the legislation before it was introduced. 'The answer will not automatically be 'no' from First Nations when a project comes along. It's just that Indigenous rights and involvement has to not only be included, but respected. That hasn't happened a lot in the Canadian past,' he said. 'There's also a question on the environment, and there's a question about who bears the impact of these projects if they're rushed through. It's going to be Indigenous Peoples, especially in parts of the country where there's mining or energy sources (on lands) that are integral to our lifestyle, our cultural practices.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. 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. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
