Indigenous engagement and consultation

Indigenous engagement and consultation under the Building Canada Act

The Government of Canada is committed to building strong, collaborative relationships with Indigenous Peoples to ensure their rights are respected and their participation is at the core of major projects. The Building Canada Act reflects this commitment by advancing meaningful consultation, building economic partnerships, and fostering long-term prosperity for Indigenous communities.

To ensure that major projects are built in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, the federal government has:

• Created an Indigenous Advisory Council to help shape how the Major Projects Office works with Indigenous Peoples. This includes providing advice on advancing economic participation in major projects, and how best to integrate United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples principles throughout the process. The Government of Canada is committed to respecting Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
• Committed $40 million over three years to increase the capacity of Indigenous Peoples to engage on major projects early and consistently.
• Doubled the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion. This program facilitates access to affordable capital to Indigenous groups, and covers all major projects across all sectors of the economy, apart from gaming.

The Government of Canada is committed to building lasting prosperity and creating new economic opportunities with Indigenous Peoples. We will work with Indigenous Peoples to ensure their constitutional rights are respected and their participation is valued. Our goal is to build big, build bold, and build now, and to create lasting economic strength for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, connecting more communities to build one, strong Canadian economy.

Engaging with Indigenous Peoples across Canada

The Government of Canada has prioritized consistent dialogue with Indigenous leaders and communities to ensure that collaboration and consultation remain at the forefront of the implementation of the Building Canada Act. This includes engagement sessions:

• First Nations Major Projects Summit: Held on July 17, 2025, the Prime Minister met with over 250 First Nations leaders, regional organizations, and other Rights Holders’ representatives on the Building Canada Act and how to most effectively build major projects in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.
• Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee meeting: On July 24, 2025, the Prime Minister, the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Natan Obed, federal Cabinet ministers, and elected Inuit leadership from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivvik, and the Nunatsiavut Government gathered to discuss how to best implement the Act effectively and consistently with Inuit Modern Treaties and in partnership with Inuit.
• Métis Major Projects Summit: Convened on August 7, 2025, the Prime Minister gathered with Métis leaders from across Canada to discuss how to work together on the implementation of the Building Canada Act.

Moving forward together

The Government will continue to engage with Indigenous Peoples across Canada through bilateral meetings, regional dialogues, and other engagement opportunities to foster meaningful information sharing related to the work of the Major Projects Office. Canada is also committed to ensuring there is collaboration and partnership with Indigenous groups on major projects. These ongoing efforts will help build trust and ensure meaningful Indigenous involvement in delivering nation-building projects that foster economic prosperity and social equity.