QUESTION PERIOD — Indigenous Services
First Nations Infrastructure
October 28, 2025
Minister, this chamber heard a lot of debate around Bill C-5, particularly the Building Canada Act portion. It was made clear that government will take into account First Nations’ input when determining the national interests.
The Assembly of First Nations, or AFN, said the massive infrastructure gap on-reserve is a major priority. While ISC supports governance in communities, there is no governance-related infrastructure. This leaves communities like Bear River First Nation without a band office for years. Imagine Ottawa without the City Hall.
Minister, how is your government defining the national interest in a way that incorporates First Nations interests?
Thank you. This government was elected on a platform that really responded to the urgency of the situation. We are ensuring that we are trying to protect and defend the interests of Canada; that includes Indigenous Peoples.
There are five criteria for major projects to move forward in Bill C-5. Those are projects that are shovel-ready, that will have an impact on the Canadian economy, that are going to meet Indigenous interests, that have participation of Indigenous groups, that are also going to attract that private capital.
So there is work to ensure that we are supplementing the economy by attracting the investment. I am there to respond to the infrastructure gap that is critical, meeting communities, providing them the service that they need so that we can build and close the infrastructure gap.
As to the urgency of what Bill C-5 is trying to do, it would be unfair to First Nations to proceed with that without giving them the time to be able to identify how they factor into it. They are part of the major projects process. The — I’m going to say — public component of governance-related infrastructure falls outside of the scope of that bill. We still have the work to do at ISC.
Minister, I was asked by your predecessor, Minister Hajdu, to support water legislation, formerly Bill C-61, as a sponsor in the Senate. It was my portfolio as Regional Chief and was part of my call for action within the first 100 sitting days of your government.
Minister, can you advise us if and when you will be reintroducing water legislation? Will it be in the amended form that left committee in the other place?
Thank you. Ensuring that access to quality water is very important to me. I’m an Indigenous person. I have on occasion seen what a boil-water advisory looks like. But I also know that when you are in government and you are trying to address something, there has to be a strategy of when you put forward legislation. I will let the government do the work needed to define when it’s coming on schedule. I’m confident that this is a positive outlook for me. I’m looking forward to seeing what those next steps will be. I’m looking forward to working with the Senate in addressing what this new legislation will look like.
