Indigenous talks set this month
The Canadian government is moving forward with its infrastructure agenda under Bill C-5 by narrowing in on five areas of focus, based on recent discussions with provincial and territorial leaders.
According to a senior federal official, projects tied to the Western and Arctic Corridor, Eastern Energy Partnership, Critical Minerals Pathways, the Next Stage of Nuclear, and Export Diversification Infrastructure are under consideration for national-interest designation.
These themes surfaced during a June meeting involving Prime Minister Mark Carney, senior federal ministers Dominic LeBlanc, Tim Hodgson, Chrystia Freeland, and all premiers.
Financial Post reported that while no formal decisions have been made, these areas have been identified as subjects of alignment between Ottawa and regional governments, the official said, requesting anonymity due to a lack of public authorization.
Before any projects advance under Bill C-5, additional discussions are expected. The federal government is scheduling meetings with Indigenous leaders later this month as part of its consultation obligations.
“We need to sort of go away and talk to the provinces and territories again, talk to Indigenous partners and Indigenous people; that’s super important and that’s a priority in July. You’ll see the PM is setting up summits with rights holders,” the source said. They added that both federal and provincial officials are continuing to meet with proponents to assess viability.
Bill C-5, passed at the end of June, enables the federal cabinet to fast-track infrastructure projects it identifies as serving the national interest. Criteria include potential contributions to economic activity or security, success probability, alignment with Indigenous interests, and relevance to clean development goals. While provincial and territorial governments can submit proposals, final selection will rest with federal ministers.
A spokesperson for the privy council office declined to provide a timeline for project announcements but noted that the law requires consultations and a 30-day public notice in the Canada Gazette prior to designation.
One proposal gaining traction is a Western and Arctic Corridor that would connect British Columbia’s northwest coast, pass through the Prairie provinces, reach Hudson Bay, and extend to the Arctic port in Grays Bay, Nunavut.
In May, Western premiers agreed to begin planning transportation and utility infrastructure along this route, including roads, rail, pipelines, and power systems that would support exports of energy, minerals, agriculture, and manufactured products to global markets.
