The Environment

During question period on the environment, the NDP asked why the government keeps weakening environmental protections and Indigenous rights to speed up major projects, pointing to Bill C-5 and a further bill it said continued that pattern. A Liberal parliamentary secretary replied that constitutional rights and consultation matter, but that decisions must also be reached quickly, and said Bill C-5 would make Indigenous communities partners in these projects.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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2 statements

Leah Gazan, Winnipeg Centre

NDP
“I want to know why the government keeps weakening environmental rules and Indigenous rights to help corporations build big projects quickly.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, indigenous peoples and environmental groups warned that Bill C-5 lets the government override environmental protections and constitutionally protected indigenous rights in the name of the so-called national interest, but apparently that was not enough. Now with Bill C-39, the Liberals are expanding their power to fast-track major projects and weaken those same protections. After a summer of wildfires burned homes to the ground, why does the government keep bending the rules for corporations while trampling on indigenous rights and putting our environment at risk?

Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Liberal
“We must respect Indigenous rights and consult communities, but we also need to make decisions quickly. This bill helps Indigenous communities become real partners in these projects. I ask the member to read the bill.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear in the House that we acknowledge that constitutional rights are important. We acknowledge that consultation must take place, but we also must be able to get to answers in a quick and timely way. We know that what we are doing with Bill C-5 will advance indigenous interests, with meaningful equity, meaningful partnership and meaningful participation from indigenous communities. I ask the member opposite to take a look at the legislation.

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