In Canada, natural resource and infrastructure projects that impact land and resource rights can be made all the more complex when they involve aboriginal and treaty rights or claims.
Successful development of these important projects requires a thorough understanding of the law regarding aboriginal rights, and constructive relationships with aboriginal groups. While the law imposes certain requirements on the government to consult aboriginal groups, companies often assist with this consultation and frequently go one step further to directly negotiate economic benefits arrangements.
This requires experienced legal counsel that can ensure such agreements provide mutual benefit to the parties. They must also make certain that timely and defensible permits can be issued irrespective of whether or when an economic benefits agreement is reached.
McMillan's Government and Public Policy Group has deep experience in these areas. Our lawyers work closely with our environmental, energy, real estate, capital markets and tax law groups, and have represented clients on matters at all levels of court including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Members of our team have served as legal advisor to the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, chief treaty negotiator, head of the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office, deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and chief of staff to a former Prime Minister.
McMillan professionals help clients lead by:
- Advising and representing aboriginal groups invested as partners in major projects
- Counseling on issues with commercial deals involving Indian Act bands and aboriginal corporations
- Negotiating engagement agreements, exploration agreements and impact benefit agreements with aboriginal groups
- Advising on working with federal and provincial governments concerning aboriginal consultation
- Advising on the impact of Canada's anti-corruption laws
January 2021
Employment and Labour Bulletin
December 2020
Employment and Labour Bulletin
November 2020
Environmental Law Bulletin
May 28, 2020
Privacy and Data Protection Bulletin
June 2019
Intellectual Property Bulletin
May 2018
April 2017
January 2016
Environmental and Aboriginal Law Bulletin
2015
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute
December 2015
Financial Services Bulletin
November 2015
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
September 2015
Environmental and Aboriginal Law Bulletin
March 2015
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
October 2014
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
September 2014
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
July 2014
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
July 2014
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
June 2014
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
June 2014
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
October 2013
Case Law Update 2012-2013: Duty to Consult
Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, Aboriginal Law Conference - 2013
September 2013
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
July 2013
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
June 2013
May 2013
Aboriginal Bulletin
January 2013
Aboriginal and First Nations Law Bulletin
November 2012
Aboriginal and First Nation Law Bulletin
June 2012
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
November 2011
Aboriginal Law Bulletin
November 2011
Cumulative Effects
Canadian Aboriginal Law 2011 Conference, Pacific Business Law Institute
Co-authored by Robin Junger, Eugene Meehan, QC, Keith Clark and Nika Robinson
October 2011
Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, 2011 Administrative Law Conference
Co-author Robin Junger and Nika Robinson
July 2011
Construction and Aboriginal Law Bulletin
also published in TerraLex Connections enewsletter
November 2010