Latest news with #nationBuilding
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘An urgent need': Alberta cabinet minister says Bill C-5 needed to fast track nation building projects
Edmonton Centre MP Eleanor Olszewski speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about Bill C-5 and more on Alberta Primetime. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Michael Higgins: Let's start on Bill C-5. Why rush it through before rising for the summer? Especially considering the degree of opposition from Indigenous groups and environmental groups? Eleanor Olszewski: I would start off by saying that there is an imperative to building projects, Canadian projects, national projects. It's an imperative in terms of national security and in terms of our economy as well. The prime minister and cabinet understand that. There was, in my view, and in the view of many, quite an urgent need to get the legislation in place quickly so that we can get nation building projects moving. MH: Given the pressure that is building on your government to get many of those nation building projects underway, a lot of the loudest voices are here in Alberta. How do you respond to the Albertans that say pipelines, energy corridors, need to be at the top of the list? EO: I would respond very favourably to that. In fact, I met a number of energy leaders at a roundtable in Calgary a few weeks ago with the prime minister and others and they were very excited to hear that we were moving forward with this legislation. It means a lot in terms of economic predictability, in terms of smoothing over the uncertainty, not just from the U.S. tariffs, but all of the uncertainty that surrounds the tariffs. The indirect result of uncertainty as well. That really is a hamper on investment in this province. So they were quite excited to have this bill move ahead. MH: You mentioned Calgary during the G7 Summit. We saw you on the tarmac greeting many of the leaders. At the same time, you were shoulder to shoulder with Premier Danielle Smith. Where do things stand in building new relations with the Alberta government, especially considering your portfolio responsibilities now in the Carney cabinet? EO: I think that relationship is in a very good place. I've had, through the emergency management side of things, the opportunity to have a number of discussions with Mike Ellis and he's the deputy premier but also my counterpart in terms of emergency management in Alberta. I also had the opportunity to spend quite a few hours of time, as you mentioned, on the tarmac with Premier Smith and I think that was a really good use of time, in terms of building a relationship with her. We had some really constructive discussions and some constructive discussions with the mayor of Calgary, who was also on the tarmac. All of those things bode really well for the federal relationship with Alberta. Certainly from my perspective I consider it fundamental to have a cooperative and collaborative relationship with the province. I'm this province's voice in cabinet as well and that's a responsibility that I take very seriously. MH: You bring up deputy premier Mike Ellis. You've very suddenly landed in cabinet with a very important portfolio at a time of year where a lot of provinces are struggling. There are growing calls for creation of a national fire service. Where does that sit on the priorities list? EO: That's actually a number one priority. What I learned over the last number of weeks is there are indeed some gaps in how we deliver emergency management and there's room for some changes. Certainly from my perspective, the safety of Canadians is absolutely top of mind, a top priority. Myself and my department, we'll be looking at changes we can make which will include considering whether or not there should be a national strategy, and if so, what would that look like? Does it cover how we deal with firefighters and bringing over international firefighters? Does it cover provision of equipment such as water bombers? There's a lot of work to do in the next few months and I'm optimistic that by August we'll have a plan for making some changes to the Emergency Management Protocol. MH: The other half of your cabinet portfolio, community resilience. What are you diving into there and how does that impact Alberta? EO: Just with respect to community resilience in general. It's basically making sure that we deal with wildfires and other emergency incidents by preparing for them properly. So by mitigating, by taking steps to make sure that we can keep communities safe. That might be something like in the case of a town that has only one access road, and in the case where there might be a fire on both sides of that road. It's thinking about what we can do in advance to make sure that people in that community are protected. That might mean a different access road leading to a field where we can evacuate people from a small airstrip. It might mean things like ensuring that building codes are appropriate given the situation. With respect to wildfires and other emergencies, it might mean using different kinds of shingles for example, in certain kinds of communities. It might mean having a proper plan for evacuating, especially remote communities. That was one of the most difficult things that we did, certainly in the province of Manitoba, is evacuate First Nations peoples from very small communities that don't have road access, that have a very tiny airstrip, and you can't land a Hercules to evacuate people. So you're bringing helicopters in and moving people out a few at a time. This is the kind of thing that we deal with in terms of emergency management. MH: In the span of a number of weeks you've gone from running to be an MP, to landing in a very key portfolio in the Carney cabinet. What does the road forward look like? EO: It looks busy, I can tell you that. I'm just remembering having a discussion with you, it seems like a few short weeks ago, and I think I had my Canada Strong t-shirt on and a jacket. To your point, things have changed so much for me, and the road ahead is very optimistic. I am very proud indeed to be part of this government. I'm very proud to be a voice for my province and for my city and for my riding. Although this moment in time has a lot of challenges, it's also going to provide us with many economic opportunities, opportunities to strengthen relations with other countries and to reduce our dependence on the United States.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Senate could vote on controversial major projects bill today
Prime Minister Mark Carney is joined by members of his cabinet and caucus as he speaks at a news conference in the Foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa after Bill C-5 passed in the House. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA — The Senate could vote today on Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill, legislation that would give the federal government the power to fast-track projects it hopes will bolster the economy. The bill, which moved swiftly through the House of Commons, is subject to a programming motion in the Senate — meaning it has to be voted on by tomorrow. Bill C-5 has faced heavy opposition over the speed of its passage through Parliament and the sweeping new powers it would give the government. Carney has said the bill is needed to fast-track 'nation-building projects' in the face of an economic crisis triggered by the trade war with the United States. The government has defended its decision to ram the bill through, pointing to its federal election win as evidence that Canadians support its agenda. But critics calling for a deeper review of the bill have argued there's no need to rush it through because proposed fast-track projects won't start work before Parliament returns from its summer break. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Canada poised to pass infrastructure bill despite pushback from Indigenous people
Canada's Liberal government is poised to pass controversial legislation on Friday that aims to kick-start 'nation building' infrastructure projects but has received widespread pushback from Indigenous communities over fears it tramples on their constitutional rights. On its final day of sitting before breaking for summer, parliament is expected to vote on Bill C-5. The legislation promised by Mark Carney, the prime minister, during the federal election, is meant to strengthen Canada's economy amid a trade war launched by Donald Trump. The bill removes interprovincial trade barriers and aims to prioritize infrastructure projects, such as energy pipelines and mines deemed to be in the national interest. It is the latter portion of the bill that has caused concern among Indigenous communities over fears the government, granted broad powers, could speed up approvals for infrastructure and energy projects and override protest from Indigenous communities. Ahead of the vote, Carney defended the legislation, which was amended earlier this week to ease concerns from Indigenous leadership. 'At the heart of this legislation is… not just respect for, but full embrace of, free, prior and informed consent. It has to be seen in parallel with very major measures that this government is taking to not just support those partnerships, but also to finance equity ownership in these nation-building projects for Indigenous peoples, Indigenous groups, Indigenous rights holders,' said Carney. Under Canadian law, the crown has a 'duty to consult' Indigenous communities on projects that could adversely affect them. 'Consultation, co-operation, engagement, participation is at the heart of C-5 and that is how you build a nation. And that's very much how we've designed it,' Carney said. While the bill says the government must consult Indigenous communities in cases where their rights are affected by a fast-tracked project, it also allows the Liberal cabinet to overrule any parliament for major projects. The federal legislation comes as provinces also pass bills that speed up infrastructure projects. Ontario plans to create 'special economic zones' that would bypass all provincial laws, amid tensions between the premier and First Nations chiefs in areas slated for mining. Doug Ford, Ontario's premier, provoked criticism earlier this week criticized for saying First Nations communities 'keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government' for more money. He apologized the following day after meeting with chiefs from the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 of Ontario's 133 First Nations chiefs. 'I get pretty passionate. And I just want to say, I sincerely apologize for my words, not only if it hurt all the chiefs in that room, but all First Nations,' said Ford. 'I get passionate because I want prosperity for their communities.' Both the federal and provincial legislation reflect the friction between speedy resource and infrastructure development and the need to consult with affected communities that have been historically marginalized, both socially and economically. Earlier this week Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, the Assembly of First Nations national chief, warned the federal bill was being 'rammed through' parliament. 'First Nations are united,' she told CBC News. 'They want prosperity, but they don't want it at the expense of our rights.' Woodhouse Nepinak says she and other leaders across the country want the government to pause the bill for more study. But Carney is eager to pass the bill, fulfilling a campaign promise that his government would eliminate internal trade barriers by 1 July. Indigenous leaders have warned a failure to fully consult on the bill could lead to widespread national protests, akin to the Idle No More movement in 2012.
Malay Mail
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Revive reading to rebuild the nation, says PM Anwar
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysians to revive the spirit of reading, emphasising its crucial role in nation-building and advancing knowledge. He said without a commitment to lifelong learning through reading, the country cannot hope to compete globally or improve its command of language, knowledge and technology. 'We have inherited a proud and remarkable civilisation. It is our generation's responsibility to pursue knowledge diligently as well as shape values, character and integrity, to elevate the dignity of our people and our nation,' he said. Speaking at the opening of the Malaysia Madani Nationalism Seminar, themed 'Teachers as Catalysts of Patriotism', Anwar said reviving a reading culture is essential to producing well-informed, morally grounded citizens, a goal that requires unity, collective effort and a shared commitment to justice. He noted that simply distributing books is no longer enough to foster interest among younger Malaysians, who are increasingly drawn to social media. 'This is not a new problem,' he said, citing an American social critic, Allan Bloom, who warned as early as the 1980s, in his book The Closing of the American Mind, that interest in reading was already in decline. Anwar said that national pride should not be measured solely through material development, but also through enduring human values. 'We may achieve progress, but without a sense of humanity, it is incomplete,' he said. More than 1,000 educators attended the seminar, including retired teachers, teaching professionals from Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, as well as teacher trainees from the Teacher Education Institutes. Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Akademi Kenegaraan Malaysia (AKM) director-general Datuk Dr Roslan Hussin and Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) president Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud. — Bernama
National Post
15-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
First Nations are mired in 'soft communism.' This leader has the fix
Stephen Buffalo is a very constructive guy. He's a man who seeks solutions, and he's open to Prime Minister Mark Carney's ambitious nation-building campaign. He also wants Carney and all Canadians to understand, though: Indigenous consent to these projects has a price tag. Article content 'Give us a chance to make our own wealth,' says Stephen, long-time advocate for First Nations' economic development and member of the Samson Cree Nation from Maskwacis, Alta. Article content Article content Article content 'To be part of the mainstream and part of the economy and at the end of the day, everyone benefits: the proponent benefits, the government benefits, and we benefit, you know, First Nations that are participating.' Article content Article content The 'new' Liberal government has pledged — in the recently tabled 'One Canadian Economy Act' — to speed up approvals for major energy and infrastructure projects that strengthen Canada's autonomy, resilience and security, have undeniable national benefits, are likely to be successfully executed, drive Canada's clean grown potential and reflect priorities of Indigenous leaders. Article content Carney assured that fast-tracking major projects won't shortcut meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples whose Charter or treaty rights may be affected. A Major Projects Office, created to assist project proponents through the assessment and consultation process, will lean on an Indigenous advisory council for advice. Article content And in an effort to reinforce Indigenous voice in governance, Carney's cabinet includes three Indigenous ministers: Rebecca Chartrand, as minister of northern and Arctic affairs; Mandy Gull-Masty, as minister of Indigenous services; and Buckley Belanger, as secretary of state for rural development. Article content Article content I ask Stephen: Do Carney's announcements signal real change in the federal government's paternalistic relationship with Indigenous communities? After watching the undermining of Jody Wilson-Raybould's leadership by the previous Liberal administration, I'm wary. Article content Article content He grins, and answers: 'I'm trying to.' Article content This isn't the first time I've sat down with Stephen for a no-holds-barred conversation about how Indigenous leaders perceive what's going on in the world. As CEO of the Indian Resource Council, Stephen speaks on behalf of 130 First Nations across Canada that have oil and gas production on their land, or the potential for production. He also speaks forcefully — as a 53-year-old father who wants to see his kids have the opportunity to thrive in mainstream society. Article content When we met 18 months ago, he was lobbying to have the Indian Act repealed because it was getting in the way of First Nations' full participation in resource development. 'We cannot live in soft communism,' he chided, 'where bureaucrats tell us how to live, what to do.'
