The Canadian Parliament has passed a historic bill, which provides new powers to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to rapidly track major national projects.
A Canadian Economy Act was passed by the Senate on Thursday, and allows the cabinet to streamline procedures and bypass certain provisions of federal laws for projects that may promote the economy.
Supporters have argued that the law is an important step to reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States, amidst trade tension by President Donald Trump’s tariff.
But this has been criticized by indigenous groups and environmental workers, who say intensifying projects can prevent opposition voices.
The law does not determine what will be made, but the Prime Minister has earlier indicated that it can be used to manufacture energy corridors, such as pipelines and electric grids and to expand mines and ports.
Carney said last week Carney said, “The Act will overcome trade obstacles, expedite nation-building projects, and highlight economic development, with indigenous partnership at the center of development,” Carney said last week.
The government said that the Act will reduce obstacles for internal trade and labor mobility. It will also give the government wide powers to approve projects that are “in national interest”.
This has worried indigenous leaders who are afraid that such projects will not be adequately consulted before approved.
The passage of the Bill in the law is an important win for Carney, and an electoral promise to remove interprewinsal obstacles by Canada Day on 1 July.
Trump has put tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and its auto sector. Carney launched a huge campaign to increase the country’s economy to combat tariff threats from the US, with Canada who wholesale its business.
Paul Prosper, a Nova Scotia Senator, who belongs to the MI’KMAQ indigenous group, unsuccessfully attempted to include an amendment that would require consent from indigenous groups before proceeding a project.
He criticized the pace with which the law was passed, saying that rights holders can be advised by “investing a few more months”.
He said that he supports development, but the law may allow government and industry leaders to ignore indigenous rights.
He said, “No one wants to see our children growing up in the square, in which there is no access to clean drinking water, there is no opportunity for good jobs and there is no support for our sick and dying. However, we do not want success and progress on the back of indigenous people in the Senate.”
However, a supporter of the bill, Senator Hasan Yousaf, said that this was a response to the “immediate and immediate crisis” in the comments stated by the CBC.
The law states that the government will consult indigenous people before tracking a project rapidly.
