A fresh federal bill is set to hasten the progression of significant infrastructure ventures, sparking concerns in Nunavut over potential accelerated development without sufficient consultation. The One Canadian Economy Act, unveiled recently, seeks to streamline the approval process for major infrastructure projects, cutting down approval timelines from five years to two. This legislation introduces a “one-project, one-review” strategy, departing from the traditional sequential federal and provincial approval processes.
In Nunavut, there exists a distinct process for evaluating major projects through the Nunavut Impact Review Board, safeguarded by the Nunavut Agreement. NDP MP Lori Idlout emphasized the necessity of ensuring that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis provide their free, prior, and informed consent before expediting any projects. Idlout expressed apprehensions about the federal government’s ability to accelerate project approvals while maintaining a commitment to consultation.
Emphasizing the need for Indigenous involvement in development discussions, especially in Nunavut, Idlout stressed that the voices of hunters and trappers organizations, who possess valuable knowledge of the land and migration patterns, should be amplified in current conversations.
Dionne Filiatrault, the executive director of the Nunavut Impact Review Board, conveyed that minimal changes are foreseen if the legislation passes, citing the existing “one window approach” aligned with a one project, one assessment model. Filiatrault noted that proponents of major projects in Nunavut presently collaborate extensively with the review board and other entities to optimize the process before submitting applications.
Paul Okalik, former Nunavut premier and current lead Arctic specialist at the World Wildlife Fund, praised Nunavut’s robust environmental review legislation, highlighting the importance of having a land use plan in place to delineate development zones and protected areas. Okalik underscored the significance of identifying key community concerns and ensuring Indigenous leadership in developmental initiatives for the benefit of Nunavut and the nation.
In response to the bill, the federal government pledged to uphold the duty to consult and engage Indigenous communities through a specialized federal projects office, which will feature an advisory council comprising Inuit, First Nations, and Métis representatives.
