My question is for Senator Gold.

June 21, 2025, marks National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a time when we recognize and celebrate the traditions, cultures, contributions and rights of Inuit, First Nations and Métis peoples.

Recent events are overshadowing this important day. Rights holders are speaking out on Bill C-5. Such an unprecedented bill, which gives cabinet extraordinary powers, is being expedited through Parliament. Lack of consultation is putting the honour of the Crown at stake. Rights holders shared with parliamentarians that Bill C-5 has the potential to trample their rights and is inconsistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples.

While the previous administration was far from perfect, the nation-to-nation relationship was moving forward. Many are worried that we have witnessed the high water mark of reconciliation and that those waters are now receding.

Senator Gold, will reconciliation withstand the consequence —

Thank you for your question. Let us be clear, senators. I understand the concerns that have been raised. I’ve heard them directly, as we all have. As a matter of constitutional law, the recognized, affirmed, historic treaty rights of Indigenous peoples are protected by the Constitution and are not affected by Bill C-5.

The government acknowledges that consultations and partnership with Indigenous leadership and rights holders are indeed integral. The Prime Minister has just said that the government’s intent in Bill C-5 is to totally embrace the notion and concept of free and informed consent. That obligation of the Government of Canada is acknowledged within the bill but exists independently of the bill. No government can — and this government will not — deviate from that important and historic obligation.

Thank you for your response. Will the government accept amendments that will protect the rights of Indigenous peoples?

Thank you for your question. It is breaking news, so many senators may not realize that a series of amendments were passed recently by the House, so the bill that we expect to receive will contain many such amendments. Some of these address the issues raised by First Nations.