NDP stands alongside Ontario Chiefs opposing Bill C-5

OTTAWA — On Tuesday, NDP MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) and NDP MP Lori Idlout (Nunavut) stood in solidarity with the Chiefs of Ontario to demand that the Liberal government stop fast-tracking their mega project Bill C-5 without fulfilling its constitutional obligations to Indigenous peoples.

“Bill C-5 gives Ministers extreme overreaching powers to arbitrarily define ‘national interest,’ bypass the rule of law and undermine human rights,” said Gazan. “This would allow Cabinet Ministers to violate their constitutional obligation to obtain the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous peoples, ignore critical environmental protection laws, and override federal health and safety regulations placing workers at risk.”

Last week, the Liberals tabled a motion to fast-track Bill C-5, a move that was supported by the Conservatives. Despite criticism from a range of Indigenous rights holders, environmental and health advocacy groups, the Liberals have devoted just one day to consult expert witnesses on the bill and vowed to pass it into law by Canada Day.

“By ramming this bill through parliament and failing to consult the groups impacted, the Liberals are violating the democratic process and embracing the same kind of authoritarianism we’re seeing under Trump,” said Gazan. “The NDP supports economic development and the creation of good jobs, but that’s not what this bill does. Instead, it would mean more drawn-out court battles, more extreme weather events, and more workers endangered by preventable workplace safety hazards.”