RAD POLICY RESPONSE: MAJOR PROJECTS

JULY 2026

RAD RESPONSE & TEMPLATE

> CLICK HERE to read the discussion paper

> CLICK HERE to view RAD Network’s submission

> CLICK HERE to download a template to submit your own response

Submit your comments to engagement@pco-bcp.gc.ca.

The federal government has released a discussion paper on proposed regulatory and policy reforms, called Getting Major Projects Built in Canada.

RAD Network is submitting a response, asserting that the strategy shouldn’t move forward until the concerns of Indigenous Nations have been thoroughly addressed through meaningful engagement.

We oppose any changes that would weaken environmental protections, undermine Indigenous rights, compress timelines or reduce the quality, transparency or rigour of project information gathering, sharing and review.

While stressing these concerns, our response calls attention to the urgent opportunity to invest in and advance Indigenous-led nature-based solutions as foundational economic, ecological, and nation-building infrastructure.

Key Concerns:

Major decisions may proceed without adequate and meaningful Crown consultation.

  • Consultation risks becoming procedural rather than genuinely influential
  • Decisions could be made before the Crown fulfills its legal duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous Peoples
  • Economic zones may effectively pre-approve projects, limiting opportunities to negotiate project-specific accommodations and mitigation measures
  • Compressed timelines may reduce Indigenous Nations’ ability to participate meaningfully
  • Greater decision-making authority for Cabinet and ministers may weaken ecological protections, transparency, and democratic processes
  • The strategy is not aligned with implementing Free, Prior and Informed Consent under:
    • UNDRIP
    • the United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA)
    • the UNDA Action Plan
  • Cumulative impacts on Indigenous rights and interests may not be adequately considered
  • Indigenous jurisdiction over lands, waters, species, and resources may be further eroded, undermining reconciliation.

Opportunities:

As the federal government aims to advance major projects, economic resilience, and trade competitiveness, there is an urgent opportunity to invest in and implement Indigenous-led nature-based solutions (NbS). This includes:

  • Embedding Indigenous-led NbS within the major projects strategy
  • Investing in and removing jurisdictional barriers to Indigenous-led NbS
  • Advance climate, ecological and economic resilience

  • Support Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, including Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs)

Read the full response and consider using or adapting the template to submit your own feedback to engagement@pco-bcp.gc.ca. The official deadline is July 22nd, however we are calling for further, more meaningful engagement with Indigenous Nations on the proposed strategy.