Amnesty International Canada is concerned by the passage of the federal government’s Bill C-5 and the troubling threat it poses to the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Passed into law on 26 June, Bill C-5 encourages the fast-tracking of infrastructure projects without safeguarding Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent over development proposals that affect their territories. The right to free, prior and informed consent is enshrined in domestic and international law, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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The legislation gives cabinet the power to designate projects such ports, pipelines and dams as being in the “national interest,” allowing them to speed through or bypass environmental and consultation regulatory processes.
Indigenous leaders across the country have condemned the bill and said the government failed to adequately consult Indigenous Peoples on its development.
“Pushing through a transformative development bill, not to mention mammoth infrastructure projects, without respecting Indigenous rights does not advance national interests — it sabotages them,” said Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section. “Respecting human rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples, is essential to building a strong, just economy for all.”
Bill C-5, like Ontario’s Bill 5, reflects a broader trend among governments across Canada of invoking economic urgency to justify curtailing environmental protections, consultation with Indigenous Peoples, and human rights – something seen in countries experiencing democratic regression and decreasing civic space.
“We are experiencing a rise of authoritarian practices around the world, which Canada is not immune to,” Nivyabandi said. “Canada must respond by championing an approach that puts partnership with Indigenous Nations, rule of law, human rights, and ultimately, people first.”
Header photo credit: William John Gaulthier
