Reconciliation and Resources: Where Indigenous Rights Meet Canada's Quest for Development

As Canada doubles down on resource development and infrastructure through its new Major Projects Office (MPO) and Bill C-5 (An Act to Enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act) the constitutional Duty to Consult Indigenous Peoples is becoming a defining opportunity for the country’s economic future.

Hosts Heather Bakken and Yaroslav Baran explore how the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ties directly to political tensions around major development, and why Indigenous consultation is no longer just a legal formality but a litmus test for national credibility and investment certainty.

This episode breaks down the legal foundations of the Duty to Consult, its evolution through Supreme Court rulings, and the growing expectation of securing Indigenous consent and partnership. Is Ottawa’s stated vision of Indigenous equity participation backed by meaningful engagement, or simply more staging? Tune in to find out.