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Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
A reckoning for Bill C-5
Presented by Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Canada Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Canada Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → 'Open dialogue' is on the agenda as the PM meets Indigenous leaders. → Deal or no deal? Opposition leaders want to know. → Plus, the 10 most lobbied public office holders in Ottawa last month. Trade war HARD BARGAIN — The room to be in today is in Gatineau, where Prime Minister MARK CARNEY is meeting First Nations chiefs at the Canadian Museum of History. This will not be a simple nation-to-nation summit on the heels of 'nation-building' legislation rushed to royal assent before Parliament rose for the summer. Carney agreed to the summit following backlash from Indigenous leaders. But there is no single Indigenous view of Bill C-5. Consensus won't come easy. — How to run a meeting: In 'Value(s),' Carney credits Amazon with inspiring his approach to running meetings during his stint at the Bank of England. Keep his decision-oriented style in mind as he delivers opening remarks to the chiefs gathered at the museum. → Focus the mind: 'The chair should set out the purpose of the meeting, ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute, that no one dominates or derails the discussion, and keep the meeting on time. The decision should be clearly communicated at the meeting, and any follow-up actions assigned immediately.' Carney writes that he is also big on everybody doing their reading. Ottawa asked chiefs to submit questions in advance. Yesterday, federal officials briefed First Nations leaders on the technical aspects of C-5. — Point of contention: Assembly of First Nations National Chief CINDY WOODHOUSE NEPINAK told reporters Wednesday that C-5, which pledges to get big projects built, doesn't go far enough to satisfy Indigenous rights. 'Until an appropriate process founded in free, prior and informed consent is established between First Nations rights holders and the Crown, the Crown's legal obligations will not be met,' Woodhouse Nepinak said. Sen. PAUL PROSPER failed to pass an amendment enshrining that principle in the bill. Still, Carney has long held that his government 'will be firmly guided' by it. — Not a monolith: Woodhouse Nepinak acknowledged differences of opinion on the new law. AFN has hosted virtual forums that revealed a range of views. 'This diversity is to be celebrated, not feared or leveraged against us,' she said. 'Many First Nations are very concerned about Bill C-5, while other chiefs want to proceed quickly with projects, resource revenue-sharing agreements and project ownership. We support every First Nations rights holder, whether they oppose or support this bill.' — Compromise watch: Woodhouse Nepinak advocates for a broadened definition of projects in the national interest prioritized by C-5. She proposed clean water systems, infrastructure, housing, schools, internet access, and cell phone service for First Nations communities. She credited Carney with agreeing to the meeting. TERRY TEEGEE, the AFN's B.C. regional chief, was less kind: 'I'm a bit more cynical,' he said. — On the agenda: Carney and Woodhouse Nepinak will open the summit, which then covers four working sessions that will each run 60-90 minutes. Eight members of Carney's ministry are scheduled to join the discussions. Note the optimism in the time-slot titles. → 9:15 a.m.: Open dialogue on meaningful consultation (90 minutes) → 11:15 a.m.: The Major Projects Office and the Indigenous Advisory Council (1 hour) → 1:15 p.m.: First Nations economic prosperity, partnership and participation (1.5 hours) → 3:15 p.m.: Working together (1 hour) — The final word: Carney is scheduled to close the summit with 10 minutes of remarks before a prayer. ELBOW ROOM — Questions about the status of Canada-U.S. negotiations dominated the prime minister's presser in the Hammer on Wednesday. The PM mostly avoided engaging with reporters about the state of tariffs and counter-tariffs. 'If I responded … it would be a bad response in the middle of a negotiation.' He was in Hamilton, Ontario, to announce the overhaul of Canada's steel trade policy and protect its domestic industry from a flood of cheap imports, especially from China. — Measures include: A 25 percent tariff on Chinese steel imports. The government also plans to adjust import quotas to enhance the competitiveness of Canadian steel. — Some exceptions: The measures do not apply to the United States or Mexico. — Double or nothing: Carney's default mode on the campaign — and now in the PMO — is to make big promises, then double down. He first set a July 16 deadline for a new Canada-U.S. deal, which was most recently punted to Aug. 1 following renewed Trump threats. — Blame game: Opposition leaders were quick to frame the PM's announcement as a failure to secure a broader deal with the president. 'How can anyone believe anything Mr. Carney says?' Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE asked his X followers. 'Only months ago, he ran an entire campaign promising he would never back down on trade. Now he is accepting permanent U.S. tariffs on Canada. A complete and utter capitulation.' — Piling on: Carney has 'renounced and made compromises on many things so far without achieving anything in the delays he himself has created and announced,' Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET told reporters in Ottawa. — Potted plants: Liberal MPs SIMA ACAN, CHRIS BITTLE, JOHN-PAUL DANKO, KARINA GOULD, LISA HEPFNER and ASLAM RANA were behind Carney at his event. Elsewhere on the trade front: — PMO travel planning: President CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM said Wednesday that she is planning to host the PM in Mexico, with the date still to be confirmed. The news follows a phone call the leaders shared this week. According to a readout from the Mexican embassy, the leaders 'reaffirmed their shared commitment to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.' No mention of that in the PM's record of the conversation, though his office noted they discussed 'how to strengthen the Canadian and Mexican economies and enhance their global competitiveness.' — White House visits: The EU's trade chief, MAROŠ ŠEFČOVIČ, is in Washington for talks with his U.S. counterparts, European Commission spokesperson OLOF GILL confirmed to our colleagues in Brussels. U.K. Trade Secretary JONATHAN REYNOLDS plans to head to D.C. at the end of the month. — Watch the mail: Trump said Wednesday that he intends to issue a single letter telling more than 150 countries what tariff rate they will face. Want more POLITICO? Download our mobile app to save stories, get notifications on U.S.-Canada relations, and more. In iOS or Android . THE ROOMS THAT MATTER — PM MARK CARNEY's itinerary notes there will be open coverage off the top of the First Nations Major Projects Summit at 8:45 a.m. The remainder of the event is closed to media. — Finance Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE and Bank of Canada Governor TIFF MACKLEM are in South Africa through Friday for meetings of the G20 and G7 finance ministers and central bank governors. — International Trade Minister MANINDER SIDHU will deliver a 3 p.m. local time keynote speech at the Surrey Board of Trade. — Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW appears on CBC's 'Metro Morning' with DAVID COMMON. MORNING MUST-CLICKS — Conservative MP ADAM CHAMBERS joined SEAN SPEER to discuss the state of the Canadian economy. — Liberal Parlsec COREY HOGAN substacked a 10-step guide to shrinking a government department — based on his own experience in Alberta's provincial bureaucracy. — KATHRYN MAY notes in Policy Options that Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX's term is up soon, with no replacement named. — Health Minister MARJORIE MICHEL may be unknown to most Canadians, but Liberals call her the 'godmother,' ANTOINE TRÉPANIER writes in the National Post. — 'Poilievre offers a vision to energize the base, but the path to broader electoral success remains fraught,' JEN GERSON writes in the Star. — POLITICO's AARON MAK talked to social-media experts about how ELON MUSK's remake of X helped light the fuse under the Epstein conspiracy saga now blowing up in the White House's face. PROZONE For POLITICO Pro subscribers, here's our latest policy newsletter: Steel resolve: Canada revamps trade rules. In news for Pro subscribers: — Trump says he will set tariffs for 150 small countries in one swoop. — USTR launches Section 301 probe targeting Brazil's digital barriers. — Canada's new steel tariffs target China, exempt US. — Britain's trade chief will head to Washington to press White House on tariffs. — German finance minister calls for 'decisive countermeasures' if no US trade deal. LOBBY WATCH FOLLOW THE TRAIL — Playbook compiled the total number of June meetings so far reported by lobbyists. Here are the designated public office holders — politicians, staffers and senior public servants — who took the most meetings last month (with totals in parentheses): — MÉLANIE JOLY, industry minister (50) — TIM HODGSON, energy and natural resources minister (43) — JOSHUA SWIFT, Prime Minister's Office policy coordinator (38) — SAMIR KASSAM, Hodgson deputy chief of staff (37) — TIM LOGAN, Joly senior policy adviser (34) — KODY BLOIS, parlsec to the PM (30) — PAUL MOEN, Joly chief of staff (29) — PATRICK HALLEY, Department of Finance assistant deputy minister for international trade and finance (29) — MATTHEW O'CONNELL, finance minister's deputy policy director (27) — EAMONN MCGUINTY, Hodgson chief of staff (27) — Also noted: GT & Co's CATHY JO NOBLE registered to lobby on behalf of the Coalition for North American Trade, where former Canadian chief negotiator STEVE VERHEUL is a co-chair. Noble's registration notes the coalition's members include Volkswagen, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Walmart and the U.S.-based Consumer Technology Association. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to McMillan Vantage VP ASHLEY CSANADY and Globe opinion editor ADRIAN LEE, former MPs CHARLES LAPOINTE and CYRIL KEEPER. HBD+1 to LAURA SCAFFIDI. Noted: More than 50 candidates are registered in the Alberta by-election where PIERRE POILIEVRE hopes to win back a seat, CTV reports. Export Development Canada's most recent Global Economic Outlook, which features a frayed rope on its cover, predicts a Canadian recession this year — and notes a spike in USMCA compliance among Canadian exporters amid tariff uncertainty that exempts products covered by the trade deal. Movers and shakers: LISA JØRGENSEN updated her job title on LinkedIn to director of global affairs in the Prime Minister's Office. LAUREN WILKINSON, a former comms staffer to Liberal MP YASIR NAQVI, joined McMillan Vantage as summer associate. Spotted: LYNETTE CORBETT, former chief of staff to then-Conservative Leader RONA AMBROSE, coming out swinging in defense of her friend JENNI BYRNE: 'At this point I hope Jenni (the most successful CPC operative in the history of the party) walks away from the movement,' she said on X. Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. TRIVIA Wednesday's answer: On July 16, 1990, a judge threw out charges against then-Global TV reporter DOUG SMALL in the 1989 federal budget leak case. Props to RAY DEL BIANCO, PATRICK JUNEAU and DAVE PENNER. Bonus marks to ROBERT MCDOUGALL, MALCOLM MCKAY, GOZDE KAZAZOGLU and ELIZABETH BURN. Today's question: Who was the first woman to carry Canada's flag at the Olympics? For bonus marks, connect your answer to this date in history. Send your answer to canadaplaybook@ Writing tomorrow's Playbook: NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY and MICKEY DJURIC. Canada Playbook would not happen without: Canada Editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and POLITICO's Grace Maalouf.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
AFN national chief says fast-tracked projects bill should come with plan for infrastructure for reserves
Other ministers expected to attend are Natural Resources and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson as well as Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, who is expected to address the issue of consultations. Members of the Liberals' Indigenous caucus are also expected to be on hand. Chiefs are also able to submit written questions. Woodhouse Nepinak acknowledged the agenda was still evolving and some feel the upcoming meeting is 'rushed,' but offered credit to Carney for agreeing with her ask to meet with chiefs, saying such a gathering ought to happen more often, given the last time she said one was staged was around 2012. The national chief said she has heard a diversity of views about the Liberals' plan to fast-track major infrastructure projects. While some chiefs have expressed concerns, she said others have expressed support. There have also been chiefs so consumed with dealing with other issues in their communities they do not yet have a position. 'We're going to give (Carney) the benefit of the doubt that he produces tomorrow,' Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'I think that he has to also listen to First Nations leadership, more listening, rather than talking about how they want to proceed forward.' The national chief and other First Nations leaders underlined how they saw Thursday's meeting as only the beginning of talks and should not be considered an act of consultation, something Carney confirmed at an unrelated news conference about tariffs in Hamilton, Ont. He said the new law was ' enabling legislation' that allows discussions to take place about what constitutes a project to be 'nation building' and the process that would follow to ensure rights-holders like First Nations would be consulted and be able to participate. Under the law, the federal cabinet would decide which projects would be added to a list that would allow the approvals process to be fast tracked through a yet-to-be-developed major-projects office. Carney has said the goal is to give selected projects the green light within two years, down from the current five. 'If this is a success, I think it's getting a solid commitment from the prime minister of discussions of how free, prior and informed consent will be implemented.' He said the problem lies in the fact there could be projects pitched 'that are going to be very controversial.' 'It's those projects that I think the vast majority of chiefs are worried about.' Teegee named as an example Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's desire to see a pipeline built from Alberta to B.C.'s northern coast, a route that has received widespread pushback from some First Nations in the area in the past. 'We've been down that road, and it's a very difficult situation.' 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.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
AFN national chief says fast-tracked projects bill should come with plan for infrastructure for reserves
OTTAWA — Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the federal government will need to present a plan for how to get more infrastructure built on First Nations reserves as it tries to soothe concerns from chiefs over new powers to fast-track major infrastructure projects. Chiefs from across the country are preparing to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other senior ministers to discuss the Liberals' plan to shorten the approvals process for projects like ports and pipelines. First Nations have voiced concerns that fast tracking could neglect their land and treaty rights. The meeting, set to take place on Thursday, was announced as the legislation, known as Bill C-5, was passed before the House of Commons broke for summer . Carney said he hoped to address chiefs' concerns about ensuring the government upholds its duty to consult First Nations as it pledges to get more projects off the ground, facing economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. 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. 'I know Trump's at our borders, pushing colonialism,' Woodhouse Nepinak told reporters at a press conference in the Assembly of First Nations' (AFN) office in downtown Ottawa on Wednesday. 'We don't need more colonialism in our country. What we need is to get back to the table and to talk about these really hard things.' Regional chiefs and other chiefs from different communities spoke during the press conference about the persistent issues that those living on First Nations face in terms of lack of access to clean drinking water, roads and housing, as well as the number of young people dying in communities — issues that former prime minister Justin Trudeau had pledged to address. Woodhouse Nepinak said she hopes dealing with that infrastructure gap 'is on the table in a very serious way,' adding that the AFN and others have produced different reports over the years that highlight the chronic issue. The AFN, the country's largest organization representing more than 600 First Nation communities, has been vocal in its concerns about the pace at which the Liberals introduced and passed the major projects legislation, but has not been directly involved in planning the upcoming gathering or selecting speakers. On Wednesday, some of the chiefs expressed concern about having received the agenda late on Tuesday. A copy seen by National Post shows the federal government plans to have Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc discuss the consultation requirements outlined in the law as well as how projects would be selected. Other ministers expected to attend are Natural Resources and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson as well as Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, who is expected to address the issue of consultations. Members of the Liberals' Indigenous caucus are also expected to be on hand. Chiefs are also able to submit written questions. Woodhouse Nepinak acknowledged the agenda was still evolving and some feel the upcoming meeting is 'rushed,' but offered credit to Carney for agreeing with her ask to meet with chiefs, saying such a gathering ought to happen more often, given the last time she said one was staged was around 2012. The national chief said she has heard a diversity of views about the Liberals' plan to fast-track major infrastructure projects. While some chiefs have expressed concerns, she said others have expressed support. There have also been chiefs so consumed with dealing with other issues in their communities they do not yet have a position. 'We're going to give (Carney) the benefit of the doubt that he produces tomorrow,' Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'I think that he has to also listen to First Nations leadership, more listening, rather than talking about how they want to proceed forward.' The national chief and other First Nations leaders underlined how they saw Thursday's meeting as only the beginning of talks and should not be considered an act of consultation, something Carney confirmed at an unrelated news conference about tariffs in Hamilton, Ont. He said the new law was ' enabling legislation' that allows discussions to take place about what constitutes a project to be 'nation building' and the process that would follow to ensure rights-holders like First Nations would be consulted and be able to participate. Under the law, the federal cabinet would decide which projects would be added to a list that would allow the approvals process to be fast tracked through a yet-to-be-developed major-projects office. Carney has said the goal is to give selected projects the green light within two years, down from the current five. Terry Teegee, a regional chief representing British Columbia for the Assembly of First Nations, said he had a more skeptical take about the upcoming meeting. 'If this is a success, I think it's getting a solid commitment from the prime minister of discussions of how free, prior and informed consent will be implemented.' He said the problem lies in the fact there could be projects pitched 'that are going to be very controversial.' 'It's those projects that I think the vast majority of chiefs are worried about.' Teegee named as an example Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's desire to see a pipeline built from Alberta to B.C.'s northern coast , a route that has received widespread pushback from some First Nations in the area in the past. 'We've been down that road, and it's a very difficult situation.' National Post staylor@ 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
3 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
AFN national chief says fast-tracked projects bill should come with plan for infrastructure for reserves
Other ministers expected to attend are Natural Resources and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson as well as Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, who is expected to address the issue of consultations. Members of the Liberals' Indigenous caucus are also expected to be on hand. Chiefs are also able to submit written questions. Woodhouse Nepinak acknowledged the agenda was still evolving and some feel the upcoming meeting is 'rushed,' but offered credit to Carney for agreeing with her ask to meet with chiefs, saying such a gathering ought to happen more often, given the last time she said one was staged was around 2012. The national chief said she has heard a diversity of views about the Liberals' plan to fast-track major infrastructure projects. While some chiefs have expressed concerns, she said others have expressed support. There have also been chiefs so consumed with dealing with other issues in their communities they do not yet have a position. 'We're going to give (Carney) the benefit of the doubt that he produces tomorrow,' Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'I think that he has to also listen to First Nations leadership, more listening, rather than talking about how they want to proceed forward.' The national chief and other First Nations leaders underlined how they saw Thursday's meeting as only the beginning of talks and should not be considered an act of consultation, something Carney confirmed at an unrelated news conference about tariffs in Hamilton, Ont. He said the new law was ' enabling legislation' that allows discussions to take place about what constitutes a project to be 'nation building' and the process that would follow to ensure rights-holders like First Nations would be consulted and be able to participate. Under the law, the federal cabinet would decide which projects would be added to a list that would allow the approvals process to be fast tracked through a yet-to-be-developed major-projects office. Carney has said the goal is to give selected projects the green light within two years, down from the current five. 'If this is a success, I think it's getting a solid commitment from the prime minister of discussions of how free, prior and informed consent will be implemented.' He said the problem lies in the fact there could be projects pitched 'that are going to be very controversial.' 'It's those projects that I think the vast majority of chiefs are worried about.' Teegee named as an example Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's desire to see a pipeline built from Alberta to B.C.'s northern coast, a route that has received widespread pushback from some First Nations in the area in the past. 'We've been down that road, and it's a very difficult situation.' 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.
Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
First Nations summit on Carney's major-projects bill 'only the beginning' of talks says AFN chief
Article content 'There are going to be regional disparities. There are going to be regional priorities. There are going to be circumstances that impact a community in one subsection of the country, that necessarily may not impact in the same way… different parts of the country.' Article content 'That is why you need to not take an approach where you're stuffing potentially hundreds of people into a room and expect to come to a consensus,' she added. 'That's not the way to properly engage with people that you are saying are your partners in this work.' Article content The government has raised eyebrows among this week's summit attendees by asking them to submit their questions for Carney ahead of time. Article content An invitation to the meeting shared with The Canadian Press shows chiefs have until July 16, the day before the summit, to submit questions they want Carney to answer. They will also have the option to vote on which questions will be posed by their peers. Article content Article content The invitation says that process will help highlight 'shared priorities and bring the most pressing issues to the forefront.' Article content AFN members held a meeting last week in preparation for the summit. Woodhouse Nepinak said 'it's clear that chiefs are united… in expressing strong concerns' about how C-5 was pushed through Parliament with little to no input from Indigenous groups. Article content However, she added that AFN members expressed a 'range of views' on the bill itself. Article content 'Some chiefs are very concerned about Bill C-5, while others want to proceed quickly with projects and resource revenue-sharing agreements. As the AFN National Chief, we're trying to support every First Nations rights holder, whether they oppose or support this bill.' Article content Woodhouse Nepinak said there is also a 'growing consensus' that the government needs to look at closing the First Nations 'infrastructure gap' on reserves as a project of national interest, and expects that element will be part of the discussion during this week's summit. Article content Article content 'The gaps are huge for First Nations people in this country,' she said. 'The rest of Canada is always flourishing and worrying about a trade war or the bottom lines of their companies, when First Nations aren't even part of the banking system. So, it's a big issue.' Article content While Bernard said there has been a 'learning curve' for Carney when it comes to engaging with Indigenous peoples during C-5, she said he can always seek advice from his Indigenous caucus's extensive experience in consulting with different communities. Article content 'We wouldn't be a new government without some bumps in the road, but I think an acknowledgement and a gesture like holding these summits is a good way to be able to rebuild those relationships, and hopefully a bit of a relationship restart,' she said. Article content
