FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STATEMENT ON BILL C-5
Onion Lake Cree Nation Rejects Bill C-5 Federal overreach threatens water, lands, Inherent and Treaty Rights
June 23, 2025 (Treaty No. 6 Territory) – Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) wholly rejects Bill C-5: One Canadian Economy Act, the federal government’s latest attempt to subordinate our Treaty, the Treaty relationship and First Nations rights and to centralize yet more executive power.
Bill C-5 creates sweeping powers for cabinet to approve major infrastructure and resource projects without public oversight. It effectively ignores First Nation Treaty and constitutional rights which are the foundation of Canada. Onion Lake has never been contacted or sent any information about Bill C-5. In fact, we found out about this Bill through the media. This is not Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), an essential part of international rights the prime minister says will be honoured and respected. Under Bill C-5, so-called national interest projects will be exempt from vital environmental laws and processes meant to ensure sustainable development to protect the environment.
“They are legislating away protections for our lands and waters so they can sell them to the highest bidder,” said Okimaw Henry Lewis. “We’ve already rejected their Bill C-61: First Nations Clean Water Act. We will not stand by while Canada tries to repackage that threat through Bill C-5.”
Onion Lake Cree Nation has challenged the legality of the Alberta Sovereignty Act and the Saskatchewan First Act, provincial laws that impact First Nations constitutionally protected rights
through gross provincial overreach. OLCN will view enactment of Bill C-5 as a federal threat to those rights and consider whether a similar legal challenge is necessary.
“Our waters and lands are not for sale. Our Treaties are not optional. Our rights are not up for deletion by a federal statute or regulation,” added Okimaw Lewis. “Onion Lake Cree Nation calls for the full withdrawal of Bill C-5. We will continue to defend Treaty No. 6, the sacred water and lands, and the rights of future generations”
