In order to understand what the government is proposing with nation building, we need to start with the basics of C-5; what you need to know.
On June 26th (2025), Parliament passed Bill C-5 (the One Canadian Economy Act), which includes the Building Canada Act. The bill is meant to strengthen the economy through “nation-building” projects in response to U.S. tariffs, which threaten the Canadian economy’s stability. By design, the federal government will choose projects proposed by provinces and territories. They will then be fast tracked by cutting through “red tape” processes. But the way Bill C-5 is written gives the federal government sweeping powers that undermine environmental protections and Indigenous rights. Major issues with the bill include:
- Bypassing environmental laws. Part 2, Sections 21-23 give the federal government power to executively bypass selected environmental acts of parliament and regulations when considering projects of national interest. This means that the government can ignore legislation in place to protect our environment, including the Species at Risk Act, Fisheries Act, Canada Marine Act, Canada Environmental Protection Act, Impact Assessment Act, Wildlife Area Regulations, among others listed in Schedule 2 of the bill.
- Lack of transparency on reaching climate goals. Part 2, Section 5.1(2)(b) allows a lack of transparency when it comes to the government’s intentions of how the project will meet our climate goals. The bill states; “The Minister must include in the registry in respect of each project… the extent to which the project is expected to meet the outcomes set out in paragraphs 5(6)(a) to (d).” By listing 5(6) (a) to (d),the bill omits point (e), the factor stating a project of national interest must “contribute to clean growth and to meeting Canada’s objectives with respect to climate change” from being included in the public registry. This means the government cannot be held accountable when it comes to ensuring that projects of national interest contribute to “clean growth” and lacks transparency.
- Disregard for Indigenous rights. Throughout the bill, there is a disregard of Canada’s commitment to obtain free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples when it comes to the use of land. In the bill, it is written as “may” obtain consent, not “must”. Duty to consult does exist in the bill, however outcomes of consultation are not defined.
Amendments were proposed by multiple organizations and parties, such as Environmental Defense Canada and Mi’kmaw Senator Paul Prosper, among others. However, these proposals were either ignored or voted down in order to pass the bill swiftly before the house recessed for the summer.
The majority of projects proposed by provinces/territories have consisted of megaprojects, including pipelines, fast-tracking mining in remote areas, highways, and dirty energy projects.
All projects proposed by the Ontario provincial government have been ones that threaten the environment, and multiple also disregard Indigenous rights. As an example, Ontario’s Ring of Fire project proposes to build a road through Indigenous lands (including the second largest wetland and carbon sink in the world) in order to mine and export natural resources. This is just one of the many proposed projects that threaten our previous and ongoing progress to reach our 2050 climate goals, and undermine Indigenous and treaty rights.
Let our new MP, Dominique O’Rourke, know that we want decentralized megaprojects for Guelph – and all ridings across Canada.
You can send her a letter by clicking here
Background information:
- Proposed amendments from Environmental Defence
- Proposed amendments to address concerns about Indigenous rights
- Ontario’s Ring of Fire
- Proposed Projects of National Interest
- Government Bill (House of Commons) C-5 – One Canadian Economy Act
