By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter and Arno Kopecky, Canada’s National Observer As First Nations leaders head to Gatineau for a high-stakes summit with Prime Minister Mark Carney, tensions are running high over the federal government\u2019s handling of Bill C-5 \u2014 a sweeping new law that accelerates approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects. Indigenous leaders say the process has left their communities out and broken promises to respect their rights, protect the environment and seek free, prior and informed consent. \u201cWe worked hard to get the prime minister to agree to this meeting,\u201d said national chief Cindy Woodhouse-Nepinak, calling it a \u201chistoric\u201d gathering. \u201cFirst Nations cannot be on the sidelines in the year 2025.\u201d But many see the haste with which the July 17 meeting was assembled as… <\/p>\n
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter and Arno Kopecky, Canada’s National Observer As First Nations leaders head to Gatineau for a high-stakes summit with Prime Minister Mark Carney, tensions are running high over the federal government\u2019s handling of Bill C-5 \u2014 a sweeping new law that accelerates approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects. Indigenous leaders say the process has left their communities out and broken promises to respect their rights, protect the environment and seek free, prior and informed consent. \u201cWe worked hard to get the prime minister to agree to this meeting,\u201d said national chief Cindy Woodhouse-Nepinak, calling it a \u201chistoric\u201d gathering. \u201cFirst Nations cannot be on the sidelines in the year 2025.\u201d But many see the haste with which the July 17 meeting was assembled as... <\/p>\n