OTTAWA — Several key federal cabinet ministers addressed the Assembly of First Nations gathering in Ottawa Thursday, including Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.

But Energy Minister Tim Hodgson — who is helping to advance Prime Minister Mark Carney’s major projects agenda — was taken off the agenda, despite being previously scheduled to appear before the chiefs Thursday.

Hodgson’s office said he would still take part in a midday meeting with B.C. chiefs but would not be speaking on the panel he was initially slated to join. His office said at first that the decision was made by “organizers” — and later clarified that it meant organizers from the federal government’s side.

“There was a shuffling of the agenda by organizers from the federal government, not at (Natural Resources

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