Harper would 'blush': Bill C-5 has Indigenous leaders, environmentalists and a Liberal MP worried

When a Liberal MP describes his own government’s handling of a piece of legislation as something that would “make Harper blush,” it’s time to listen.

That’s exactly what Nate Erskine-Smith told the House of Commons about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Bill C-5, the bill that both pledges to knock down internal trade barriers and to expedite major project approvals.

The government wants this legislation passed by Canada Day — and it looks like the Conservative Party will help them accomplish that.

But in their hurry to ram this bill through Parliament, the government is running roughshod over legitimate concerns from Indigenous leaders, environmental advocacy groups and even from one of their own Liberal MPs.

I spent the last week peaking to environmental experts, reading the legislation and listening to impacted communities.

Here’s what I learned — and why you should be concerned about the lack of clarity in this bill.