The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has unanimously resolved to oppose the Carney government’s sweeping proposed reforms aimed at streamlining major project approvals. Tribal chiefs at the annual summer political assembly in Ottawa made it clear that they will not allow any reforms that weaken environmental protections or bypass Indigenous rights.
The federal Liberal government has proposed a plan to get major projects, such as pipelines, approved within a year, which includes establishing a new Crown Consultation Hub to co-ordinate engagement with Indigenous Peoples. However, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak firmly stated that commercial imperatives should not supersede the honour of the Crown. She reminded the government that while they can set timelines for project approvals, they cannot put a deadline on First Nations rights. In response, the office of Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated that they intend to strike a balance to ensure faster decisions without weakening oversight or Indigenous rights.
This unified stance sets the stage for a critical first ministers’ meeting scheduled for October 26, where First Nations leaders will meet with provincial premiers and the Prime Minister to protect their lands and rights. Meanwhile, an economic alliance was signed between the Blackfoot Confederacy in Alberta and the Iroquois Caucus in Quebec to strengthen Indigenous solidarity in the face of provincial separatist movements.
The assembly also raised strong objections to Bill C-37, the federal government’s new on-reserve drinking water legislation. Leaders accused the government of weakening the bill to appease provinces and avoid legal liability by removing direct recognition of First Nations’ human right to safe drinking water. Chiefs emphasized that their jurisdiction over water resources remains non-negotiable.
