Bill 5 passes amid protest from First Nations communities

Bill 5, the so-called “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act,” was passed at Queen’s Park Wednesday.

The controversial Bill 5 gives Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas it deems to have economic importance.

“It’s shameful, and certainly with something as important as this where the government is giving themselves the power to scrap every law, every protection that Ontarians depend on,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

The mineral rich Ring of Fire is one of those areas that the Conservatives want to get to and develop.

“We have more critical minerals than anyone in the world. That’s one of our economic drivers. And we are going to move forward as quickly as possible,” said Ford.

But it sparked angry backlash from First Nations who say the bill tramples their rights and ignores their concerns. In response, they have warned they may blockade roads and railways.

“You have to understand, it’s not a threat. I want them to listen. It’s a warning. I’m trying to warn him. I’m not inciting violence or anything like that,” said NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa.

Ford says it wouldn’t be wise for Indigenous people to set up blockades.

“Well, you can’t break the law, simple as that. If any of us go stand and block the highways – they need to move on or they will be dealt with appropriately,” said Ford.

The Ring of Fire – which as of right now, is essentially just an area of wilderness in northern Ontario – is at the centre of Ford’s economic strategy, but it’s on treaty land.

“What have we got in Ontario’s north? Critical minerals. They are buried in the ground. We want to get them out of the ground. We want to get the nickel. We want to get the chromite. We want to get the cobalt. We want to get the lithium. Yes, we want to take the gold up as well. We need to be able to get at those critical minerals and be able to capitalize on all the wealth that will be created for all of our families in Ontario,” said Vic Fideli, Minister of Economic Development and Job Creation.

If Bill 5 ends up being challenged and found to be unconstitutional in court, Ford wouldn’t say if he would use the notwithstanding clause to save it.

“Well, I hope it wont end up in the courts, and we will cross that bridge when we come to it,” said Ford.

READ MORE: Ontario to amend controversial Bill 5 following backlash