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Claim — unverified

DRIPA gives First Nations a veto over government decisions.

Bruce Pardy, Fraser Institute
Professor, Queen's University · Feb 2024

Fact-checked — verified

The Federal Court ruled in 2025 that free, prior and informed consent is 'a right to a robust process — not a veto or a right to a particular outcome.' The word 'consent' does not even appear in DRIPA's operative sections. It appears only within UNDRIP itself — and DRIPA's Section 7 agreements require Cabinet authorization and are voluntary, project-specific, and negotiated.

Full source details

Kebaowek First Nation v. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Federal Court of Canada · 2025-02-25[2025 FC 319]

Statement by Justice Minister David Lametti to Senate Committee on Bill C-15: 'FPIC is not a veto over government decision-making'

Senate of Canada — Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples · Hon. David Lametti · 2021-05-31

FPIC, Consent and Veto: Drawing the Distinction

Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP · 2021-09-01

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Bill 41 — 2019)

Province of British Columbia · 2019-11-28[S.B.C. 2019, c. 44]

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