The Saskatchewan Party government has defeated a bill from the Opposition NDP that it says would have bolstered relations with Indigenous people in the province.

The NDP says the bill called for a more robust consulting process with Indigenous groups when the province sells Crown land and changes policies that would affect the environment.

It says it would enforce consultation and allow communities to have a say in how discussions occur.

The government says it didn’t support the legislation because it included statements it believes would give Indigenous groups a veto on proposed projects.

The province says such statements would have made it difficult for the government to operate.

The NDP says the bill wouldn’t provide veto votes and that the government’s current process is flawed.