OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was at a summit with First Nations leaders on Thursday to listen to their concerns about the government's major projects legislation but almost all of the meeting is being held behind closed doors.
The Assembly of First Nations advocated for the entire meeting to be made public, but the government organizers only permitted the prime minister's opening remarks in the room at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., to be public.
Carney and several of his cabinet ministers met Thursday with hundreds of First Nations leaders about the Building Canada Act, which allows the government to fast track major projects.
"I will say a few words at the start and answer questions at the end but I'm here to listen, engage and move forward from that," Carney told reporters before the meeting began.
He was greeted with cheers as he took the stage Thursday morning to deliver opening remarks.
"The economic value of these projects will be shared with First Nations as partners; it will help build the prosperity of your communities for generations to come," Carney said as he began the meeting.
After he finished making brief remarks, media were escorted out of the room and barred from hearing National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak address the hundreds of chiefs gathered, despite her wishes for media to remain present.
Speaking to reporters shortly after her address, Woodhouse Nepinak apologized for having to hold the press conference outside of the museum.
"You should have been in there, and you should have been able to hear my speech," she said.
"You're all invited to (our annual general assembly) in Winnipeg ... We won't kick you out. You're all welcome to stay with us the whole day."
The closed-door meeting was promised in June after chiefs said their rights were not respected by the government pushing the legislation through Parliament. The law was passed, with support from the Conservatives, less than a month after it was introduced.
It allows cabinet to quickly grant federal approvals for big industrial projects that are deemed to be in the national interest by sidestepping existing laws. It also gives cabinet the power to determine which projects are in the national interest.
Former national chief Ovide Mercredi addressed Carney directly in the meeting, saying Carney is asking for First Nations to have faith in the government and the legislation, despite it causing fear among leaders.
A recording was provided to The Canadian Press by a chief participating in the summit.
"There's always a limit to our conversations in forums like this. But if you come to our territory, we will honour you. We will treat you with the respect you deserve as the head of this country," Mercredi said.
"But at the same time, we would expect you to honour our people and our leaders likewise," he continued before receiving a standing ovation.
Sheila North, the former grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and proxy for Bunibonibee Cree Nation, said she was disheartened by the moderators trying to limit Mercredi's speaking time.
"Ovide Mercredi is one of the First Nations most respected and sought-after knowledge keepers in our country," North said in a statement to The Canadian Press.
"Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government would signal to many of us that they are serious about building relationships if they followed Ovide's advice."
Carney told reporters that Thursday's meeting is the first step in a process.
"As we're building our nation, we're building all nations, building together, building in partnership," he said.
"Today we'll be talking about building in partnerships with First Nations, in some cases in partnership, in some cases with projects led by First Nations."
He stressed that the law is enabling legislation and the government has not yet identified the national-interest projects it intends to fast track.
"Which ones do First Nations, do provinces, do the people of Canada want to move forward on? That takes work," he said.
Many First Nations leaders said Wednesday they have low expectations for the meeting and are warning it should not be seen as the full consultation required on major projects.
When asked if he thinks the government can get consensus from First Nations leaders about how to move forward, Carney said: "Yes I do."
"Everyone wants to make the country better. Everyone wants better opportunities for their children. Everyone want more resources for social services, for health, for education, for community services," he said.
The government plans to hold similar meetings with Inuit and Métis leadership in the coming weeks. Carney said he will meet with Inuit leaders in Inuvik, N.W.T. in 10 days time, though a spokeswoman for him later said she could not confirm either that date or location.
He also pledged to launch a regional dialogue with First Nations and further consultation processes going forward.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025.
Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
