Article: Getting projects built during the pandemic: The continued importance of relationships with Indigenous peoples

Over the last decade, Indigenous consultation and participation have become vital to successful infrastructure development in Canada. The issues raised by the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs in respect of the Coastal GasLink pipeline were frequently in the news in late-2019 and early-2020, for example. Though public attention has been directed elsewhere during the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous consultation and participation in infrastructure projects will be crucial to fast tracking any “shovel-ready” projects for development, a key element of Canada’s economic recovery. There is a substantial opportunity for proponents and Indigenous groups who are committed to meaningfully engaging in project development to capitalize on the economic recovery incentives in the COVID-19 context, and to bring projects to successful completion in a timely and cost-effective manner. Read more by clicking on the link below.