Q-291 , 45th Parliament, 1st session May 26, 2025, to present

With regard to the consultation process in the government's preparation of Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act: (a) which Indigenous rights holders were consulted about Bill C-5 prior to it being introduced in the House of Commons; (b) how much time were these rights holders provided to share their concerns about Bill C-5 with the government; (c) did the ministers and staff responsible for the preparation of this bill address any concerns raised by Indigenous rights holders in correspondence or meetings held with them prior to Bill C-5 being introduced in the House of Commons; and (d) what steps did the government take to ensure Bill C-5 obtained the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous rights holders to ensure it was compliant with (i) An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, (ii) Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, including subsection 35(3)?