Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Chief Abram Benedict and Chief Francis Verreault-Paul listen as delegates speak about resolutions at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Annual General Assembly in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Assembly of First Nations Chiefs voted on Wednesday unanimously to oppose the Carney government’s proposed reforms that were aimed at streamlining major project approvals, namely pipelines, if those reforms “weaken environmental protections, undermine oversight, limit meaningful consultation, compress review timelines or circumvent First Nations’ free, prior and informed consent.”
The AFN’s national chief denounced the plan in no uncertain terms on Tuesday during the annual summer assembly in Ottawa. The federal Liberals had released a legislative overhaul which would help get projects get approved within a year, by creating the Crown Consultation Hub to help coordinate with Indigenous Peoples.
“A one-year timeline, principally designed to attract investment, subordinates the honour of the Crown to commercial imperatives. Instead, it will give rise to questions about the legitimacy of approvals,” Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told delegates at the Rogers Convention Centre.
“The federal government can try and set up all the timelines that they want for project approvals, but they can’t put a deadline on First Nations rights.”
Also on Wednesday, the Blackfoot Confederacy chiefs and Iroquois chiefs in Quebec signed an economic alliance, which highlights the importance of solidarity during separatist movements in both provinces.
The meeting and resolution Wednesday helps set the stage for an important meeting on October 26th, where First Nations leaders, provincial premiers and the prime minister convene for the first ministers meeting. The delegates discussed the meeting at length on Wednesday, and highlighted the importance of preparation for the rare chance to hold direct talks.
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