NDP splits Bill C-5, forcing vote on controversial Building Canada Act

OTTAWA – The NDP has forced the government to split up its omnibus major projects legislation, Bill C-5, forcing Parliament to vote directly on its more controversial clauses. After Friday’s Question Period, NDP MP Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East) raised a point of order arguing the bill’s two parts were unrelated to one another, which the Speaker ruled in favour of.

“Through Bill C-5, the Liberal and Conservative coalition joined hands to bypass environmental reviews, ignore provincial jurisdiction and trample on the constitutional rights of Indigenous peoples,” said Kwan. “The NDP wants economic growth, but we will never vote in favour of violating constitutional rights and contributing to the climate emergency.”

Last week, the Liberals passed a motion with the support of Conservatives to fast-track Bill C-5 through Parliament before the House was set to rise for the summer. The NDP has called on the government to slow down this process, joining Ontario First Nations Chiefs protesting Bill C-5 earlier in the week.

NDP MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) echoed Kwan’s concerns, saying “The second half of Bill C-5 violates the government’s constitutional obligation to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous rights holders. Even more, it’s an attack on health and safety standards and environmental protections that will hurt everyone, especially working people.

“I thank my colleague MP Jenny Kwan for this important measure to improve process for reviewing this bill and improve transparency for all our constituents voicing their concern about it.”