Poilievre addresses the Assembly of First Nations on natural resources, campaign plan

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told the Assembly of First Nations Tuesday a government led by him would guarantee economic prosperity and said that First Nations peoples should be the richest on earth.

Poilievre’s pitch to the body representing First Nations chiefs across the country was part of a series of engagement sessions with federal party leaders ahead of the April 28 election.

In the hour-long session, Poilievre said a Conservative government would unlock resources and ensure First Nations benefit economically from those decisions.

He also said outlier First Nations shouldn’t get to veto projects if most other First Nations are on board.

Poilievre also addressed access to clean drinking water and affordable homes but did not present a clear strategy, saying he would seek input from communities on water legislation and ensure an unspecified amount of stable funding is available for infrastructure projects.

“I do not want to lead your life. I want to get government and bureaucratic gatekeepers out of the way so that you can choose for yourself how to grow and develop and move forward into the future,” Poilievre said during Tuesday’s virtual session with the AFN.

“I’m inspired by the inventiveness, determination and the strength that enabled the survival of First Peoples for so many millennia since time immemorial. This will guide everything I do as prime minister. It inspires me to build a Canada that is stronger and richer for us all.”

Green party leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault addressed the AFN earlier in April, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is scheduled to address the organization Wednesday. Liberal Leader Mark Carney will address the AFN on Friday.

Poilievre has long said a government led by him would “unlock” energy exports and speed up approvals for major projects.

That pledge was repeated in his party’s platform, released Tuesday, which says a Conservative government would work with Indigenous partners to “process and sell our clean natural resources.”

Part of that pitch is the repeal of Bill C-69, which requires assessments for environmental, health, social and economic impacts and the rights of Indigenous people before a major resource or infrastructure project can begin.

The Conservative platform says that law “makes it impossible to build the mines, pipelines and other major energy infrastructure Canada needs.”

It adds a Conservative government would advance economic reconciliation through the creation of an Indigenous Opportunities Corporation allowing for equity ownership in major projects.

The platform also tackles the housing shortage by pledging to establish a permanent funding stream for communities under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. It also cites a previously-announced promise to allow industry to pay a portion of their taxes directly to First Nations.

The platform has a heavy economic focus and has little to say about social issues, such as child welfare reform. It does say a Conservative government would provide $25 million to support Indigenous-language media.

The platform also refers to Indigenous Peoples as “our Indigenous Peoples” — a wording choice often criticized by leaders who say First Nations and Inuit predate the formation of Canada and do not belong to the country.

Poilievre took more than a dozen questions from AFN members, many of which focused on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the former Liberal government.

Asked whether he would uphold the principles outlined in the declaration — including the requirement for free, prior and informed consent from First Nations on issues regarding their lands and resources — Poilievre said there isn’t a clear definition of what that consultation entails.

“Does it mean that the majority of elected leadership do not get to proceed with a project that is going to bring them immense benefits? I don’t think that it does, or should,” he said.

“That said, I want to be clear. We will respect Section 35 rights to consultation. I also want to clarify that for me, consultation doesn’t mean just consulting with those against, but those in favour — something (the Liberal government) refuses to do.”

National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak addressed consultation in her opening remarks, saying “Canada’s economic success and future stability depend on reconciliation proceeding forward and First Nations being equal partners in decision-making.”

“Our rights are affirmed in our treaties,” she said. “They are recognized in Canadian and international law and must be upheld.”

A report released Tuesday by RBC found that 73 per cent of the 504 major resource and energy projects either planned or already underway in Canada are on or near Indigenous lands, with an equity opportunity close to $97 billion over 10 years.

Most of those projects are related to oil and gas and critical minerals.

Poilievre claimed the Liberals are blocking that development, saying a Conservative government would work with First Nations to identify “shovel-ready zones” for major projects, which he said would “unlock enormous opportunities.”

Poilievre also defended Aaron Gunn, a controversial Conservative candidate in British Columbia accused by some First Nations leaders of denying the effects of residential schools.

Poilievre said Gunn is aware of the impact those institutions had on families and communities and a Conservative government would move forward in the spirit of reconciliation.

He also pledged to uphold funding for Jordan’s Principle, make it easier for First Nations peoples to enter the trades and work with communities to develop community-led police services.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2025.

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press