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The head of the new federal government Major Projects Office Dawn Farrell listens as Prime Minister Mark Carney announces five major projects in Edmonton on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
By The Canadian Press

Major projects CEO faces B.C. First Nations frustrated over lack of consultation

Oct 14, 2026 | 1:27 PM

OTTAWA — Major Projects CEO Dawn Farrell told First Nations in B.C. today that the frustrations expressed over a lack of consultation made her feel like Canada is “never going to work,” but her office is determined to try.

Farrell was addressing the B.C. Assembly of First Nations at its annual general meeting.

Media were asked to leave the room before Farrell’s appearance, but the meeting continued to be publicly streamed on the B.C. Assembly of First Nations YouTube channel.

First Nations in B.C. are calling on Ottawa to set national standards for Indigenous consultations on major projects.

Chiefs say they were given just 11 working days to review and engage on whether the proposed Pacific Link pipeline should be designated as a project of national interest.

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Farrell said she agrees with the concept of national consultation standards but she wonders how such standards would work alongside the government’s accelerated timelines for project approvals.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.

Nick Murray and Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

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