OTTAWA - A new list of major projects has been released, featuring several initiatives that have Indigenous support, ownership, or backing. This follows an initial round of referrals to the Major Projects Office, which did not include any Indigenous-led projects. Among the projects slated for fast-track approval are the Crawford nickel mine in Ontario, the Ksi Lisims LNG project on British Columbia's northwest coast, and the North Coast Transmission Line, which will power projects in the region, including the Ksi Lisims LNG facility.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced these projects in Terrace, B.C., stating they represent $56 billion in new investment. The federal government's major projects legislation, passed earlier this summer, allows for expedited federal approvals for significant industrial projects deemed to be in the national interest. This legislation also established the Major Projects Office, which will oversee project referrals and an Indigenous advisory council to ensure the integration of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into its decision-making processes.

The Ksi Lisims LNG project, which includes a floating export facility and a natural gas pipeline, is set to be built on Nisga'a Nation territory in B.C. The project has the support of the First Nation and is touted to be one of the cleanest operations globally, with emissions 94% below the global average. It is expected to contribute $4 billion annually to the nation's GDP. However, two B.C. First Nations have already initiated legal action against the Ksi Lisims project.

Carney emphasized that referring a project to the Major Projects Office does not equate to approval. "It means that all the efforts are being put in place from the federal government in order to create the conditions so it could move forward. But those decisions are taken by many parties, including very much (by) First Nations," he stated.

The Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project, supported by the Canadian Nickel Company, has established partnerships with three local First Nations, providing business and employment opportunities. Wabun Tribal Council executive director Jason Batise noted that the agreement signed with the Matachewan, Mattagami, and Flying Post First Nations demonstrates the strength of collaboration when First Nations' rights are respected.

Additionally, the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydroelectric Project, an Inuit-owned initiative, aims to reduce the region's reliance on diesel-generated electricity. Harry Flaherty, president and CEO of Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation, stated that the project's referral signals the importance of Inuit participation in the Canadian economy.

The Sisson Mine in New Brunswick, proposed by Northcliff Resources, aims to extract critical metals for North American, European, and Asian markets. In 2017, the provincial government signed revenue-sharing agreements with six Wolastoqey First Nations, projecting significant financial benefits for those communities.

In Quebec, Nouveau Monde Graphite has signed an impact benefit agreement with the Atikamekw First Nation for a mine projected to produce 106,000 tonnes of product annually.

As of now, no project has received the "national interest" designation, which would allow for exemptions from certain environmental laws to facilitate progress. Once a project is referred to the Major Projects Office, it undergoes a review and returns with recommendations to the government, which has the final decision on the national interest designation.

Carney has met with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit leaders over the summer to address concerns regarding the major projects legislation. While reactions to these meetings were mixed, they helped ease tensions that had escalated following the legislation's passage. Indigenous leaders had warned of potential protests against projects advancing without their consent.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, initially a vocal opponent of the legislation, has shifted her focus to ensuring adequate consultation with First Nations before projects proceed. Meanwhile, the Manitoba Métis Federation has expressed support for the legislation but criticized the lack of prior consultation. Natan Obed, head of the national Inuit organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, has also called for respect for Indigenous rights in the context of major projects in their territories.