New federal major projects legislation poses a significant threat to Indigenous people: lawyer

One Vancouver lawyer is speaking up about Bill C-5, the federal government’s newly passed major projects legislation, saying it is not going to be a good thing for Indigenous people.

In fact, Bruce McIvor — who is also a historian and the author of Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation — says the legislation poses the greatest threat to Aboriginal rights in a generation.

“I can see a certain sector of the population saying, ‘Those First Nations are standing in the way of these projects, they’re the problem,'” he said.

“And that can lead to violence against Indigenous people.”

Women in particular will be especially vulnerable to this growing violence, he says.

The House of Commons passed the Liberals’ major projects legislation Friday with the support of the opposition Conservatives. Bill C-5 grants the government sweeping powers to approve major projects that are deemed to be in the national interest and tackle internal trade barriers.

The passage of the bill was a shock and a surprise, McIvor says.

“There’s just going to be more uncertainty,” he said.

“First Nations will be forced to file lawsuits in court, and secondly, really importantly, it’s going to increase the rate of systemic antagonism towards First Nation people.”

McIvor says many people voted for Mark Carney’s Liberals to avoid legislation like Bill C-5.

“And now they are quickly waking up to the unfortunate fact that the federal Liberals are pursuing the same policies that the Conservatives would have pursued,” he said.

The best thing people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, can do is to educate themselves about the legislation and engage in dialogue with their politicians to effect change, says McIvor.