informed consent of First Nations There is no mention of new legislation from the Liberals — it seems they will just add money and hope for the best. As one seasoned observer put it, the impact would be like “pouring water on hot coals,” with no lasting effect.
On the Truth & Reconciliation Commission recommendations, Trudeau has taken a huge leap into the dark. Many of those in the report are based on acceptance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. While the Conservatives signed the declaration, they emphasized that its adoption did not change Canadian laws.
That proviso appears to have been abandoned. Now any mining or resource company looking to develop a project will require the free, prior and informed consent of First Nations — giving them a veto over government regulatory decisions.