The Quebec government’s decision to introduce Bill 61, which will allow infrastructure projects to proceed without consultation violates the spirit of an agreement the province came to last year, said the leader of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.

“First Nations will never accept legislation that ignores the Crown’s duty to consult and does not recognize constitutionally entrenched Aboriginal and Treaty Rights as a basis. If the government remains focused on the speedy adoption of a bill that ignores our repeated calls for respect and denies our most fundamental rights, it must prepare for an uncertain tomorrow,” said AFNQL Chief Ghislain Picard.