Prime Minister Mark Carney met with about 250 First Nations chiefs in Gatineau on Thursday in an effort to quell opposition to his government’s newly enacted Building Canada Act, widely described as the major projects law. The closed-door summit, promised last month after Indigenous leaders complained of inadequate consultation, included several cabinet ministers and lasted throughout the day. The legislation, also referred to as Bill C-5, empowers the federal cabinet to fast-track approvals for large industrial projects—such as mines, ports and pipelines—if they are judged to be in the national interest, effectively allowing ministers to override existing environmental and regulatory statutes. It cleared Parliament in June less than four weeks after being tabled, with support from the Conservatives. Before the meeting, Carney told reporters he was “here to listen” and pledged that economic benefits from future projects would be shared with First Nations “for generations to come.” He characterised the gathering as the first step in a longer consultation process but signalled no intention to amend the law. Indigenous leaders entered the talks with low expectations, warning the event should not be portrayed as the formal consultation required under treaty and constitutional obligations. Many remain sceptical that meaningful changes will follow, though Carney committed to regional dialogues and announced similar meetings with Inuit leaders on 27 July and with Métis representatives in the weeks ahead.