Prime Minister Mark Carney met with First Nations leaders about their concerns with the government’s major projects legislation, also known as Bill C-5.
Carney and several of his cabinet ministers were at the gathering on Thursday.
However, some chiefs walked out and others boycotted the meetings entirely.
Prince Albert Grand Council Chief Brian Hardlotte, attended the meetings, and says PAGC chiefs continue to be apprehensive about the major projects bill.
“PAGC chiefs are raising the alarm of Bill C-5,” Hardlotte said in a press conference following the meetings. “That legislation represents a direct threat to indigenous sovereignty, treaty rights, and long standing responsibilities under the international law.”
Hardlotte says the legislation sounds good when presented by the government, but he says he continues to have concerns.
I think it it it supports capitalism, and,people will get rich, other people,” he said. “There will be jobs and hopefully those partnerships are there, but if not, if the partnerships are not there, there has to be revenue sharing.”
The Grand Chief says these kinds of discussions needed to happen before legislation was passed, not after.
In the meantime, Carney says his government will now meet with Metis and Inuit leaders on the controversial legislation.