Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his bill that would create “special economic zones” where provincial laws – including labour or environmental regulations – could be suspended to accelerate mining or other development, saying he believes some First Nations vowing to fight it will eventually come onside.
Ontario’s Bill 5 was before a legislative committee this week when Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations across Northern Ontario, called the proposals an “attack.” He said First Nations have not been consulted and told reporters he expects confrontations on Indigenous land if the bill passes.
Speaking to reporters on Friday in Orillia, Ont., Mr. Ford said First Nations would be consulted. He said the bill is needed to speed up Ontario’s mining approvals, which he said can take 15 to 17 years. Those delays, he warned, cost Ontario billions in investment and hamper its hopes to mine critical minerals in its remote northern Ring of Fire region.
He argued that some First Nations in the area that oppose his bill would end up joining the handful that support his government’s plans to accelerate development, once they see the benefits.
“Some groups will never agree. Some are in between. And some are all for it. But I feel strongly that when other First Nations communities see their neighbours thriving and prospering … eventually they’re going to want to do the same thing, I’m hoping,” Mr. Ford said.
He pointed to the two First Nations near the Ring of Fire – Marten Falls and Webequie – which are leading an environmental assessment for sections of the government’s proposed, multibillion-dollar all-seasons road – needed to open up the remote area more than 500-kilometres north of Thunder Bay for development. Aroland First Nation, further south, signed an agreement with the government earlier this year on upgrades to future connecting roads to the Ring of Fire.
First Nations leaders warn of confrontation over Ontario’s ‘special economic zones’ in omnibus bill
Mr. Ford said First Nations supporting the new roads, and the development it will bring, are looking forward not just to new jobs, but to more goods brought in by truck all year, easier access to health care to the south and power lines that will end their reliance on diesel generators.
Mr. Ford also said he and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford met on Thursday with Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, head of the Chiefs of Ontario, at the Premier’s house, to discuss Bill 5.
“He understands that we’re doing this, and moving forward with consultation with First Nations,” Mr. Ford said, adding a $3-billion loan fund in the recent provincial budget will allow First Nations to invest in mining, energy and other projects.
Mr. Benedict is set to address the legislative committee scrutinizing Bill 5 on Monday. He is also set to hold a press conference where he and other First Nations leaders would express “concerns and opposition” to Bill 5, according to the Chiefs of Ontario website. A spokesman, Declan Keogh, said Mr. Benedict was not available for an interview on Friday.
On Thursday, Mr. Rickford said he had agreed to alter Bill 5’s preamble to strengthen its reference to the government’s duty to consult First Nations after a meeting with Mr. Benedict. The preamble of a law is not usually legally enforceable, but it lays out the intent of legislation.
In an e-mail on Friday, Hannah Jensen, a spokeswoman for the Premier, declined to offer more detail about the Premier’s meeting with Mr. Benedict or explain why Mr. Ford did not respond to an invitation to meet with Mr. Fiddler and his umbrella group of Northern Ontario chiefs in Toronto this week.
Bill 5 includes a range of proposed measures beyond the special economic zones, which have been condemned by opposition leaders and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association as anti-democratic. Environmentalists say other sweeping changes would gut endangered species protection.
It also includes separate provisions meant to speed up Ontario’s sluggish mining permit system that have been welcomed both by the industry and even the Opposition NDP.