Credit – Nick Hawkins
Building the Economy Need Not Come at Expense of Indigenous Rights and Essential Ecosystems
June 20, 2025
OTTAWA—As an organization that works across Canada, particularly in the North, we understand the transformative power of projects that could drive rapid decarbonization or close critical infrastructure gaps, and what they could mean for people and the economy.
We also understand the government of Canada’s desire to advance projects such as these in a streamlined way. However, the speed and scale of development must not—and need not—come at the cost of Indigenous rights or the health of essential ecosystems. The federal government’s proposed Bill C-5, which would all but guarantee approval of projects determined to be in the “national interest,” treats both of these as obstacles to be overcome rather than what they truly are: the foundation for Canada’s successful long-term development.
“We urge the government to reconsider whether undermining our country’s relationships with Indigenous peoples and circumventing environmental legislation is truly in the national interest.”
– Oceans North
Bill C-5 proposes an approach that is inconsistent with Canada’s legal obligations and undermines its legislated commitment to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples—in particular the right to free, prior, and informed consent. The existing impact assessment process was designed to ensure meaningful Crown consultation, which the government defines as being founded on principles of good faith, respect, and reciprocal responsibility; respectful of the uniqueness of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities; carried out in a timely, efficient, and responsive manner; collaborative, transparent, and predictable; accessible, reasonable, flexible, and fair; and accommodating.
As written, Bill C-5 does not come close to meeting this definition. Meaningful consultation necessitates full partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis from the outset—not just as participants, but as leaders with the authority to shape what development looks like on their lands and waters.
Oceans North is not opposed to development. We are for equality of access to economic opportunity and raising living standards in the communities where we live and work. We are for projects that that take a precautionary approach and balance the potential benefits of resource extraction against the existing benefits of healthy ecosystems. And we are for working through, not around, Canada’s treaties and land claims. In that spirit, we urge Parliament to reconsider whether undermining our country’s relationships with Indigenous peoples and circumventing environmental legislation is truly in the national interest.
We ask this government to extend the consultation period for Indigenous participation in the development of C-5 and explore other ways to streamline the impact assessment process that maintain safeguards for people and nature.
For more information, please contact:
Alex Tesar
Communications Director
Oceans North
[email protected]