First Nations concerned with lack of consultation ahead of major projects announcement

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to announce which projects will get the greenlight to be fast tracked under his controversial infrastructure initiative.

After much anticipation, Ottawa will unveil on Thursday its list of major projects deemed in the national interest.

“Tomorrow, we’ll announce the first tranche, the first batch of these projects. Projects that will increase Canada’s independence, boost our economy, align with the interests of Indigenous peoples and advance our climate goals,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday.

Carney has sought pitches from the provinces – for energy and infrastructure builds – that would help the country face the economic headwinds of its U.S. trade war and which will be streamlined in environment, Indigenous and regulatory approvals, plus likely receive federal funding.

B.C. Premier David Eby said last week that he has repeatedly said it should lead the way on the project’s list, saying last Thursday he will be disappointed if the province isn’t awarded a significant number of the projects on the list.

Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has repeatedly pushed for an oil pipeline through B.C. It’s been reported that that pitch made the draft long list, but didn’t make the cut for Thursday’s list.

Eby has indicated he hopes LNG expansion, more critical mineral mines and hydroelectric transmission capacity connecting B.C. with the Yukon and Alberta will get approval.

“It’s really to build that one Canadian economy, turbo-charged by major nation-building projects that connect our regions that diversify our products, that build new markets and create those hundreds of thousands of high-paying careers,” said Carney.

The prime minister announced the creation of an Indigenous advisory council Wednesday.

That step isn’t sufficient says Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, who worries these projects will get rammed through with inadequate First Nations consultation.

“We have grave concerns,” said Phillip, expressing those concerns in relation to both the federal and provincial governments.

If a pipeline isn’t announced as on the list Thursday, it’s not off the table. A second set of projects will be announced before November.