News & Media

Carney's 'nation-building' projects bill faces uncertain future in unpredictable Senate – June 25th, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney's point-person in the Senate is pressing for the swift passage of the government's landmark "nation-building" projects bill, but he isn't certain he can get it through unamended before the upper house is scheduled to break for the summer. ... Read More

National chief asks senators to slow down major projects bill, as senator collapses – June 25th, 2025 – The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is calling on senators to slow down Ottawa’s sprint to pass Prime Minister Mark Carney’s controversial major projects bill this week. Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Wednesday she hopes the Senate “does the right thing this week” and allows more time to study the legislation and bring forward amendments -- a call that went largely unanswered when she issued it to MPs. ... Read More

Senate prepares to pass controversial Bill C-5 – June 25th, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney’s controversial Bill C-5 is all but guaranteed to become law, but politicians have one last opportunity to make changes to the bill. ... Read More

Carney's push for 'nation-building' projects moves ahead despite some Indigenous opposition – June 19th, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney promised during the election campaign to "build big, build bold" and the legislation that would enable federal fast-tracking of major projects appears poised to clear the House of Commons despite some Indigenous opposition. ... Read More

COMMENTARY: Take Bill C-5 off fast track so Canada doesn't mirror U.S. policies – June 19th, 2025 – On Jan. 20, a newly inaugurated Donald Trump shouted a slogan that had become a rallying cry of his campaign: “Drill, baby, drill.” This mantra represented a promise to the billionaire-backed fossil fuel lobby that supported his campaign, and an open threat to the environmental movement that opposed it. ... Read More

Senator says he'll introduce amendment to delay Bill C-5 – June 18th, 2025 – Sen. Paul Prosper says he'll be putting forth an amendment to delay half of the One Canadian Economy Act. Prosper says the bill is moving too quickly through Parliament and is concerned about the level of consultation provided for major projects. ... Read More

Consultation on Bill C-5, economic uncertainty of Trump’s tariffs focus of Indigenous testimony in Canada’s Senate – June 17th, 2025 – Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) President David Chartrand said his people want to do their part to protect Canada from the “mad man” to the south and his threats of tariffs. ... Read More

Freeland defends major project bill as Senate eyes more testimony – June 17th, 2025 – Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland defended Ottawa’s Bill C-5 Monday, dismissing concerns around Indigenous consultation as a motion to fast-track the legislation passed with CPC support. ... Read More

WATCH: United Opposition to Bill C-5 as MPs, Indigenous Leaders and Legal Experts Speak Out – June 16th, 2025 – On June 16, 2025, Green Party Leader MP Elizabeth May hosted a press conference on Parliament Hill to raise urgent concerns about Bill C-5, the so-called Building Canada Act. She was joined by MP Gord Johns from the NDP, Senator Paul “PJ” Prosper, Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, Anna Johnston of West Coast Environmental Law, and Joshua Ginsberg of Ecojustice. ... Read More

Senator says he'll introduce amendment to delay Bill C-5 – June 16th, 2025 – Sen. Paul Prosper says he'll be putting forth an amendment to delay half of the One Canadian Economy Act. Prosper says the bill is moving too quickly through Parliament and is concerned about the level of consultation provided for major projects. ... Read More

MPs call out Carney's sprint to push major projects bill through Commons – June 16th, 2025 – Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said the drive by Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to rush its major projects bill through Parliament this week represents a "new low" in government contempt for Parliament. ... Read More

Conservatives vote with Carney government to rush Bill C-5 – June 16th, 2025 – The federal Conservatives voted with the Liberals on a special order to push a massive piece of legislation on major project approvals through the House of Commons before the week’s end. ... Read More

Elizabeth May calls out Carney’s sprint to push projects bill through Commons – June 16th, 2025 – Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said the drive by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to rush its major projects bill through Parliament this week represents a “new low” in government contempt for Parliament. Speaking at a press conference Monday morning, May said she hasn’t seen anything like it since the Conservative government under Stephen Harper pushed an omnibus bill through more than a decade ago. ... Read More

OPINION - Candace Larsen: The future of Canada depends on Indigenous leadership – May 28th, 2025 – On May 12, CSG Senator Paul Prosper and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak delivered a message Canadians can’t afford to ignore: if this country wants to remain strong… ... Read More

The future of Canada depends on Indigenous leadership – May 28th, 2025 – On May 12, CSG Senator Paul Prosper and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak delivered a message Canadians can’t afford to ignore: if this country wants to remain strong, stable, and sovereign in the face of global uncertainty, it must place Indigenous leadership at the centre of its national priorities. ... Read More

First Nations call on Carney to deliver on clean water and housing in first 100 days – May 14th, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney's government faces its first major test on Indigenous infrastructure when Parliament resumes - First Nations leaders are demanding reintroduction of stalled water legislation and new investments in community-led housing within the first 100 days ... Read More

First Nations Leaders Urge Carney Government to Pass Drinking Water Bill and Act on Key Indigenous Priorities Within 100 Days – May 13th, 2025 – First Nations leaders are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government to move swiftly on key Indigenous priorities, including the passage of long-promised drinking water legislation, within the first 100 days of Parliament’s return. ... Read More

Critical Mention – May 13th, 2025 – A group of indigenous leaders held press conference on Monday, laying out their priorities for the first 100 days of the new Liberal government ... Read More

45th Parliament: Sen. Prosper and First Nations Leaders Outline Priorities – May 13th, 2025 – Nova Scotia Senator Paul Prosper (Canadian Senators Group) holds a news conference in Ottawa along with a number of First Nations chiefs and leaders joining him in person and virtually. The participants, including Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, outline First Nations priorities for the return of Parliament. The 45th Parliament is set to begin sitting on May 26, 2025. (May 12, 2025) (no interpretation) ... Read More

First Nations leaders want drinking water bill within 100 days of Parliament’s return – May 13th, 2025 – 7 priorities outlined by leaders including Sen. Paul Prosper, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse. First Nations leaders are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to tackle a number key priorities in the first 100 days of Canada's new Parliament. ... Read More

Daily Recap - May 12, 2025 – May 13th, 2025 – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith makes an announcement on supporting industry amid economic uncertainty. She is joined at the news conference in Edmonton by Rebecca Schulz, the minister of environment and protected areas. Quebec Premier François Legault takes questions from reporters in Nicolet after attending an awards ceremony for Journée de reconnaissance policière (Police Appreciation Day). ... Read More

AFN chief calls for speedy return of clean water legislation – May 12th, 2025 – Parliamentarians will be "playing games with First Nations children's lives" if they fail to quickly introduce and pass legislation to ensure access to clean drinking water, the Assembly of First Nations national chief said Monday ... Read More

First Nations leaders rebuke Alberta premier over talk of separation referendum – May 12th, 2025 – A Mi’kmaq senator says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith must first recognize inherent First Nations rights before moving any further on a referendum on provincial separation from the rest of Canada. ... Read More

First Nations leaders want drinking water bill within 100 days of Parliament's return – May 12th, 2025 – First Nations leaders are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to tackle a number key priorities in the first 100 days of Canada's new Parliament. ... Read More

Critical Mention – May 12th, 2025 – Canadian Senator Paul Prosper will deliver a list of First Nations' priorities he hopes will be addressed by the new Liberal government. ... Read More

Critical Mention – May 12th, 2025 – Senator Paul Prosper was asked by reporters today what he would like to see in the new Liberal cabinet sworn in tomorrow. ... Read More

45th Parliament: Sen. Prosper and First Nations Leaders Outline Priorities – May 12th, 2025 – Nova Scotia Senator Paul Prosper (Canadian Senators Group) holds a news conference in Ottawa along with a number of First Nations chiefs and leaders joining him in person and virtually ... Read More

First Nations leaders rebuke Alberta premier over talk of separation referendum – May 12th, 2025 – A Mi’kmaq senator says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith must first recognize inherent First Nations rights before moving any further on a referendum on provincial separation from the rest of Canada. "There has to be a recognition as a pre-condition of the existing rights, as National Chief (Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak) has said, that existed before the founding of this country,” said Paul Prosper, who represents Nova Scotia in the Senate. ... Read More

Senator, AFN national chief hopeful Carney will advance Indigenous priorities – May 12th, 2025 – Ahead of the swearing in of Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet on Tuesday, Mi'kmaw Sen. Paul Prosper and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak say they hope Indigenous issues will be a priority. ... Read More

Senator Paul Prosper and First Nations leaders outline priorities for new Parliament – May 12th, 2025 – Nova Scotia Senator Paul Prosper (Canadian Senators Group) holds a news conference in Ottawa along with a number of First Nations chiefs and leaders joining him in person and virtually. The participants, including Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, outline First Nations priorities for the return of Parliament. The 45th Parliament is set to begin sitting on May 26, 2025. ... Read More

‘Pleased and honoured’: Eskasoni's Tuma Young recipient of King Charles III Coronation Medal to recognize lifetime achievements – March 27th, 2025 – Eskasoni’s Tuma Young was one of several Mi’kmaq individuals celebrated and honoured at the recent King Charles III coronation medal ceremony in Membertou ... Read More

Mi’kmaw community members chosen for independent review of DFO incident that left fish harvesters stranded – March 18th, 2025 – Three members of the Mi’kmaw community will be part of an independent review of a incident where DFO officers left two fish harvesters stranded without their phones or shoes, APTN News has learned ... Read More

Support Canada by buying into thriving Indigenous economy: Senator Prosper – March 4th, 2025 – The looming spectre of a trade war with the United States has unlocked a new level of patriotism among many Canadians, and a desire to support Canadian businesses ... Read More

Nova Scotia senator wants to help Nunavut as Senate vacancy lingers – November 18th, 2024 – While Nunavut’s sole Senate seat remains vacant, a Nova Scotia senator hopes to help Nunavummiut in the upper chamber on issues such as infrastructure and national defence ... Read More

‘A brighter future’: Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders 2024 participants testify at Senate committee – November 1st, 2024 – Reanna Merasty (McKay) is working to build more inclusive spaces — literally from the ground up. ... Read More

Mi’kmaw mother says she may lose support for children under Jordan’s Principle – November 1st, 2024 – A Mi’kmaw mother living in Nova Scotia says she may lose health supports for her children under the Jordan’s Principle program. ... Read More

Mi’kmaw Sen. Paul Prosper releases ‘listening tour’ report – October 11th, 2024 – Paul Prosper, a Mi’kmaw senator representing Nova Scotia, has released a report of an eight-month “listening tour” throughout Mi’kma’ki. ... Read More

Senators share messages for Indigenous youth on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 27th, 2024 – September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — a time to honour Indian Residential School Survivors and the memories of those children who never returned home. ... Read More

Surprise letter from Mi'kmaw chiefs derails N.S. minister's attempt to fast-track federal bill – June 13th, 2024 – Nova Scotia's plea to speed up passage of federal legislation impacting offshore wind projects suffered a blow Thursday when a Senate committee said it had received a letter from Mi'kmaw chiefs raising concerns about how quickly the bill is moving toward becoming law. ... Read More

Parliamentary committee recommends reopening baby eel fishery on East Coast – May 24th, 2024 – The Parliamentary Fisheries and Oceans committee says the baby eel, or elver, fishery on the East Coast be reopened and a “crisis unit” set up to deal with any violence that follows. The committee issued its recommendations in a five-point report on Thursday that concluded, “banning legal fishing does not stop poaching.” ... Read More

Senator PJ Prosper Visits Listuguj – April 29th, 2024 – Earlier this month, Listuguj received a visit from Senator Paul J (PJ) Prosper. The visit was facilitated by the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat (MMS) and consisted of a meeting with MMS and the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government’s (LMG) leadership. The day ended with a tour of the community. ... Read More

Liberal MP, senator call for public investigation into federal officers who stranded Mi’kmaw fishers – April 17th, 2024 – Liberal MP Jaime Battiste says an outside investigation into an incident where federal fisheries officers stranded two Mi’kmaw fishers at a gas station without their phones or shoes ... Read More

Senator Prosper tours Mi’kma’ki, embarks on a “listening tour” to help focus work in the Senate – March 25th, 2024 – Senator Paul “PJ” Prosper, a proud Mi’kmaq Senator, is embarking on a tour of the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people known collectively as Mi’kma’ki. Over the course of 4 weeks, spread out over Senate non-sitting weeks ... Read More

Model Senate 2024: Record number of students take the reins in the Red Chamber – March 25th, 2024 – Model Senate reached new heights in 2024, after approximately 100 post-secondary students representing 10 provinces and one territory — a new record — filled the seats in Canada’s Upper Chamber. ... Read More

Nova Scotia AFN Regional Chief Paul Prosper appointed to Senate – July 7th, 2023 – The regional chief who fronted the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) executive committee during the ousting of its national chief last week has landed a Senate appointment ... Read More

Mi’kmaw lawyer Paul Prosper appointed as senator for Nova Scotia – July 7th, 2023 – Paul Prosper, a Mi’kmaw lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous legal issues, has been appointed as an independent senator for Nova Scotia ... Read More

Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland appointed to Senate seats – July 7th, 2023 – Two Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have been appointed to the Senate. Paul Prosper, the former chief of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation and a former Assembly of First Nations (AFN) regional chief, will represent Nova Scotia ... Read More

Former Paqtnkek Chief Paul Prosper Appointed to the Senate of Canada – July 7th, 2023 – Former Paqtnkek Chief Paul Prosper is headed to the Senate of Canada. Prosper, is one of two new independent senators appointed to the Upper Chamber by Governor General Mary Simon, announced Thursday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ... Read More

Nova Scotia Regional Chief Who Spoke Out Against ex-National Chief, and Mi’kmaq Lawyer Appointed to Canada’s Senate – July 7th, 2023 – An Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief who was outspoken in his disapproval of ex-National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, is now a Senator ... Read More

Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland appointed to Senate seats – July 6th, 2023 – Two Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have been appointed to the Senate ... Read More