New Indigenous Advisory Council leaves Idlout pessimistic
NTI, Makivvik Corp. representatives among 11 people who will give advice on major projects
Nunavut MP Lori Idlout says she does not believe advice given by the Indigenous Advisory Council regarding which project should be fast-tracked will influence decision making in the federal cabinet. (File photo)
An Indigenous Advisory Council announced last week by the federal government as part of its Major Projects Office will be ineffectual, predicts Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout.
“Their voices will not be heard,” she said Friday.
The government created the advisory council after Indigenous leaders expressed concerns over the passage in June of Bill C-5, also known as the Building Canada Act.
The Major Projects Office was created to spearhead projects of national interest the government selects for fast-track approval, said a Sept. 10 news release from the federal government announcing the creation of the advisory council.
Idlout expressed doubt the council’s advice will play a role in which projects are fast-tracked.
“[The council] won’t have a real voice and their voice won’t matter when it comes down to decisions being made by cabinet regarding what the interests of Indigenous Peoples are,” Idlout said.
Dawn Farrell, CEO of the Major Projects Office, declined to comment.
Eleven Indigenous representatives from across Canada were named to the council, including Christy Sinclair, a policy analyst at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., and Vanessa Doig, assistant director of the president’s department at Makivvik Corp.
Indigenous consultation is embedded in the Building Canada Act, the news release said.
The council will guide the office’s work to ensure major projects “create opportunities for equity ownership and responsible resource management through meaningful participation with Indigenous Peoples.”
Sinclair and Doig did not respond to requests for comment.
“[The council] won’t have a real voice and their voice won’t matter when it comes down to decisions being made by cabinet regarding what the interests of Indigenous Peoples are,” Idlout said…
Welp, You don’t have a voice in there either…I think Lori is a bit intimidated by the Indigenous Advisory Committee!
My first thought is she is jealous she was not asked to participate.
Is there anything she’s optimistic about? Everything is doom and gloom with no solutions or recommendations ever offered.
I told you all for the last 4 years she will win again, and she will win another term, so live with it.
Being a Government critic means automatically never being satisfied with something that the other side presents. Such a horrible way to operate. Can’t show agreement, can’t show any praise, even if there are merits to whatever the opposition is saying. Basic decency, respect and logic are out the door in the world of politics.
Like poilievre
Negative Lori at it again
Lori – “Indigenous voices must be heard!”
Government – “We’ve embedded Indigenous consultation in the Building Canada Act and we’ve even created an Indigenous Advisory Council as part of the Major Projects Office.”
Lori – “Not good enough!”
Question for Lori: What would you do differently? I understand critics are critics, and they are supposed to critique, but if you’re going to be critical, you must offer an alternative in your criticism.
As in closing the barn doors after the horses have run, you don’t give away the platform before a campaign begins. It was the hair on the back of your neck fear Trump election that whittled Canada down to Red VS Blue. We’ll pay bigly. C5 is pro corporate as in shateholder/CEO benefit, and pass on the environment as it gets, And it is only year 1 with the Lib admin. It’s not that different in Canada than in the lower 48 uni-party state where no matter which is in office the results are the same. With luck it will finish its collapse with small affect in our country. We are in for a few hard years nonetheless.
How is it that we are still talking about Lori in 2025 after a federal election?
Lori Idlout is our Member of Parliament for Nunavut. She represents all of Nunavut, including all the non-Inuit here. As such, she cannot and should not speak for Nunavut Inuit, even though she is an Inuk.
She continues to fail to realize she is part of public government and as such, she should stop trying overturn our Inuit representatives.
This is becoming embarrassing. You would think she might think about just picking up a phone and calling NTI before pretending to speak for us.
From President Tunraluk, who represents all us Inuit from their NTI’s News Release on Bill C-5; “I want to congratulate Christy (appointee to this Council) on this important appointment,” said NTI President Tunraluk.
“She is a strong Inuk leader who brings knowledge, integrity, and a deep commitment to advancing Inuit priorities. Her experience will strengthen the Council and help ensure that Inuit-led and Inuit-identified projects are represented in Canada’s major projects agenda.”
It is obvious NTI is dialed into C-5. If that is not good enough for Idlout, she should be bringing her concerns to NTI as a private Inuk, not the media.
Idlout leaves me pessimistic.