The government can now…

The government can now exempt lands from heritage protections to prioritize housing or infrastructure. That means sacred or significant Indigenous sites can legally be bulldozed and communities have no legal way to stop it or seek justice.

The Minister can now order inspections without consent raising the risk of intrusion, disruption, or claims on culturally important areas without involving Indigenous voices.

Blocking anyone from touching or moving potential artifacts until a licensed archaeologist says it’s okay creates a colonial gatekeeping system, where Indigenous people may be denied access to their own cultural items or sites. The power to decide where artifacts go still lies with the Minister, not the community they belong to.