HANSARD: With strong Indigenous opposition, will the Prime Minister withdraw Bill C-5

Debates of June 19th, 2025
House of Commons Hansard #19 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session

Indigenous Affairs
Oral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal and Conservative coalition joined hands to fast-track Bill C-5 to bypass environmental reviews, ignore provincial jurisdiction and trample on the constitutional rights of indigenous peoples.

Ontario chiefs are rejecting Bill C-5. UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip called it a “complete betrayal of Canada’s commitments under the UN Declaration [on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples]”. The assembly unanimously condemned the bill and is calling for its immediate withdrawal. Chiefs across the country are saying, “nothing's off the table” if the bill is passed.

Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and withdraw Bill C-5?

Rebecca Alty Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Liberal

Mr. Speaker, we will be looking for projects that have indigenous support and, even better, indigenous equity in the projects.

The legislation is about supporting projects that are not only shovel-ready but also shovel-worthy, projects that respect indigenous knowledge and uphold aboriginal and treaty rights. The legislation mandates that there must be meaningful consultation and accommodation with indigenous rights holders during both the process of determining which projects are in the national interest and the development of rigorous conditions for each project.