Indigenous leaders say Carney’s economic reconciliation lags as Bill C-39 races ahead

Indigenous leaders and policy voices used the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday to argue that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s focus on “economic reconciliation” is out of step with rights and consultation as Ottawa races to approve major projects.

Former Truth and Reconciliation Commission co-chair Wilton Littlechild told The Canadian Press that while Carney courts overseas investment, fast-track legislation risks sidelining Indigenous rights and traditional economies such as hunting, fishing and trapping. The government’s Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, aims to approve designated projects within one year — a timeline First Nations chiefs say would severely compress land-use assessments and meaningful consultation.

Hayden King, executive director of the Yellowhead Institute, said First Nations are still waiting on clean drinking water legislation, better health access and action on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and compared Carney’s speed-to-build approach more to Stephen Harper’s approval-acceleration era than to Justin Trudeau’s. Critics also pointed to federal offers of low-cost loans and payments to encourage First Nations investment in the Trans Mountain pipeline as a “carrot” that some call coercive.

Stephanie Scott of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation said economic opportunities matter, but reconciliation remains about survivors, families and future generations. The day’s warnings came as Carney’s Liberals push LNG expansions, high-speed rail referrals and an expected national-interest designation for a West Coast oil pipeline — all framed as answers to U.S. trade pressure, and all contested by communities asking whether consent is being treated as optional.

Sources: Canada's economic reconciliation plan is not working say critics — APTN News: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/mark-carney-is-banking-on-economic-reconciliation-but-critics-say-hes-not-on-track/ | AFN chief warns Carney against 'abusing' majority to pass major projects bill — The Canadian Press: https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/afn-chief-warns-carney-against-abusing-majority-to-pass-major-projects-bill/article_dbfc4e67-94ae-531d-a79b-380a601ceae3.html | Overview of the new Building Canada Strong Act (Bill C-39) — JFK Law: https://jfklaw.ca/one-year-one-consultation-one-decision-overview-of-the-new-building-canada-strong-act-bill-c-39/