[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n
HUNTSVILLE, ONT. \u2014 A three-day meeting of the country\u2019s premiers gets underway today, and the first item on the agenda is discussions with Indigenous groups.<\/p>\n
The premiers are gathering at Deerhurst Resort in Ontario\u2019s cottage country and trade and tariffs are expected to be the main topics, particularly when they meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Mark Carney.<\/p>\n
But first they are set to have discussions with leaders from the Assembly of First Nations, the M\u00e9tis National Council and the Native Women\u2019s Association of Canada, among other Indigenous groups.<\/p>\n
That meeting comes as Indigenous communities have expressed concerns with federal and provincial laws meant to fast-track major infrastructure projects as a way to stimulate the economy facing tariff impacts.<\/p>\n
The federal law known as Bill C-5 allows cabinet to quickly grant federal approvals for big projects deemed to be in the national interest by sidestepping existing laws, while Ontario\u2019s Bill C-5 allows its cabinet to suspend provincial and municipal laws through the creation of so-called \u201cspecial economic zones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nine Ontario First Nations have filed a court challenge to the laws and are concerned there will not be meaningful consultation with them.<\/p>\n
Carney hosted a meeting with hundreds of First Nations chiefs last week and while some chiefs walked out saying they saw an insufficient response to concerns they\u2019d been raising for weeks, others left the meeting \u201ccautiously optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ford has said that over the course of the meeting this week, the premiers will also talk about emergency management, energy security, sovereignty and national security, health, and public safety.<\/p>\n
\u00a92025 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n