OTTAWA — Justice Minister Sean Fraser apologized Wednesday for recent comments about the federal government’s duty to consult First Nations regarding developing projects on their territories, saying his words “potentially eroded a very precarious trust.”

The issue has emerged in light of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to introduce legislation that would fast-track approvals for major energy and infrastructure projects by cutting the timeline to two years, down from five.

The Assembly of First Nations, a national advocacy organization representing more than 600 First Nations across the country, has expressed concerns that, from what they have seen of the forthcoming bill, it “suggests a serious threat” to First Nations treaty rights.

In a recent letter to Carney, National Chief Ci

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