Trust can’t be legislated, but it can be built: Karen Restoule in The Hill Times – MLI
June 16, 2025
First Nations must be included as business partners from the outset, and it’s a question of laying out a framework for how to move projects forward with their involvement.
Canada is under pressure to build, and to do it fast. With this comes an historical opportunity: First Nations, industry, and government have a chance to come together through business partnerships and reposition the Canadian economy.
Historically, major project development has forged tensions between these three groups. But in recent years we’ve seen business-focused partnerships formed through equity, royalties, and other financial-based solutions. This has happened for projects of varying sizes, across various sectors, and in regions throughout the country. With this approach there has been growth. We are now seeing a shift in the relationship: from one of chaos and adversity to one of mutual benefit and shared jurisdiction.
