Disruptions expected as pressure builds around Ontario’s Bill 5

The Ontario government’s controversial proposed Bill 5 that seeks to speed up large mining projects in the north sparked outrage at Queen’s Park today.

Road, rail and mine blockades could be on the horizon in the province as First Nations communities ramp up the pressure on the government to kill the bill.

“If the bill goes forward as is, we are idle no more,” said NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa,

Mamakwa says First Nations communities are ready to act because it’s the only way to get the government’s attention.

“There will be closures, blockages of mines, roads – that’s what I am understanding. That’s the only way they will listen. And right now they are not listening.”

The province says the proposed Bill 5 will protect Ontario’s economy by expediting large construction projects in Ontario.

READ MORE: Toronto Zoo warns of extinctions if Ontario mining bill becomes law

The government is set to create so-called special economic zones that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects.

Premier Doug Ford has said his government intends to declare the critical mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario as one of these zones.

Ford didn’t seem to be phased by the criticism today at Queen’s Park.

“Well, there’s opposition with the radical environmentalists, not everyone else. People want jobs, they want to create wealth and opportunity and prosperity, that’s what they want. We have to make sure that we compete against the rest of the world. We have a commodity called critical minerals, we have more than anyone in the world, we have to get it out to market,” Ford said.

Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce had a softer approach – saying the Conservatives want to listen and engage with First Nations communities and are willing to change the bill.

“We are going to have those discussions with the First Nations leaders, we have throughout the week … But I am just signaling to you a willingness to do that,” said Lecce.

READ MORE: Ontario insists it will consult with First Nations on controversial mining bill

Other groups are speaking out too – the Canadian Civil Liberties Association says the creation of these special economic zones would give corporations far too much power.

“This part of the bill is simply a power grab. Essentially the government is giving itself the power to give corporations a free pass to circumvent all sorts of important protections such as environmental laws, labour laws, health and safety laws,” said Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program and interim director of the Privacy Program.

Even the Toronto Zoo is critical of the bill that would scrap the province’s Endangered Species Act and may disrupt the habitats of endangered animals.

“I think it’s a long history of concern. For a lot of species at risk, we haven’t actually stopped the decline. And we are not talking about conservation, we actually want recovery and thriving,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO at the Toronto Zoo.

Provincial ministers say they have heard the outcry and will make improvements to Bill 5, but are stopping short of saying they would eliminate it outright.

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