Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is another case where the government has said in press releases that projects won't go forward unless there's consensus. Obviously, it isn't referenced anywhere in Bill C-5 that there would be consensus and consensus isn't defined. The only consultation the ministers must offer is to other federal ministers. There is a requirement to talk to other federal ministers.
My amendment would expand that to say that meaningful consultation must also occur with the public. Meaningful consultation should occur with provincial ministers and territorial ministers who are also affected by a proposed designation of a project of national interest.
Specifically, in proposed paragraphs (b) and (c) of my proposed amendment is a very specific requirement for indigenous peoples with rights under section 35 who may be adversely affected by the project, as well as members of the public.
I think the important thing to stress here is meaningful consultation, not just checking a box and saying that they've consulted with them and moving on. It's a critical way of ensuring that the intent, as expressed by numerous ministers, is about finding a national consensus to ensure that there's been meaningful consultation with the public, with other orders of government and specifically with indigenous peoples and nations with rights under section 35, as well as under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.