Ontario First Nations groups slam mining-focused Bill 5

Environmental groups and some First Nations oppose Ontario’s Bill 5 to boost mining despite changes by Premier Doug Ford who calls it an opportunity of a lifetime.The proposed law, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act 2025, aims to accelerate mining development and create First Nations-led special economic zones such as for the Ring of Fire region north of Lake Superior, but Indigenous leaders are challenging it.“Bill 5 is a direct attack on our nations, our people, our treaties, and our future generations,” Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) said in a standing committee meeting at Queen’s Park this week, according to a release. NAN represents 49 First Nations in Ontario’s North.“Ontario is claiming they are fast-tracking this legislation and eliminating red tape to respond to tariffs and global economic instability. However, it is clear their goal is to fast-track development in our territories and eliminating red tape really means eliminating our rights.”Premier Doug Ford disagrees.“This is an opportunity of a lifetime that no provincial government has ever given the indigenous communities across the province,” Ford told reporters on Friday. “They will thrive, they will prosper and that’s what they want.”He said the opponents are a very small and vocal group.“Wouldn’t that be a disappointment? Do they think Ontarians and Canadians are going to be in favour when you block a railroad, block a road? That’s counterproductive.”Ford says he’s willing to have discussions with the opponents, and would allow some to decide not to take part in development.“There’s certain areas, they just don’t want to do anything. Fine. You don’t want to do anything? You’re left behind. We’re moving forward.”Ford said the province has set aside C$3 billion to help Indigenous communities become equity partners in mining projects, C$70 million in training and C$10 million for scholarships for Indigenous communities.Special economic zonesThe proposed special economic zones could exempt projects from other regulations and laws. Wyloo Metals plans to develop its Eagle’s Nest battery metals project in the Ring of Fire region, about 540 km northeast of Thunder Bay.The government has pledged that First Nations to be affected will be consulted and this week also said that Indigenous-led economic zones will be created, though it’s given few details.However, Indigenous leaders and environmental groups say the legislation and the potential First Nations-led zones ignore their rights and concerns.‘Lawless zones’“This bill contains no checks or balances of any kind,” Ecojustice lawyer Laura Bowman told a Queen’s Park committee meeting on Monday. “It is a blank slate allowing cabinet to create lawless zones for trusted proponents and special projects in secret, using secret criteria.”Provincial Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford and Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce have said consultation with First Nations, especially the ones in the Ring of Fire region, is on their agenda for the summer.The premier said developing the Ring of Fire region would be the leading infrastructure project he’s pitching to Prime Minister Mark Carney at the premiers meeting in Saskatchewan next week.Slams Bill C-69Ford also spoke out against the federal government for continuing to support Bill C-69, which was enacted in 2019 and is commonly known as the Impact Assessment Act, for delaying pipelines.Critics say the Act makes project approvals slower and more uncertain; supporters argue it leads to more responsible development.The provincial opposition NDP led filibustering against the bill this week in legislative committee meetings, which have delayed the bill’s passage. The government plans to pass the legislation before the summer recess begins on June 9.Groups including the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Chief of Ontario have scheduled a protest rally against the bill at Queen’s Park on Monday.NAN and the Chiefs of Ontario, led by Abram Benedict, did not immediately respond to Northern Miner requests for comment.Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com