Ontario passes Bill 5 despite opposition from First Nations, environmental groups
- Ontario's government passed Bill 5 on Wednesday, granting sweeping powers to accelerate mining and development projects in the province.
- The bill responds to U.S. tariffs and aims to fast-track critical mineral mining, but First Nations and environmentalists oppose it due to consultation and protection concerns.
- Bill 5 creates special economic zones that allow suspending provincial and municipal bylaws for select projects, mainly in Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region.
- The legislation passed 71-44 despite opposition parties' amendments and warnings that it could affect six species and infringe on treaty rights, with Ford stating it is necessary to avoid protests.
- The bill's passage signals a government willingness to override local laws to promote economic resilience, though critics call it an anti-democratic overreach that undermines Indigenous and environmental protections.
97 Articles
97 Articles
What Ontario’s New Controversial Bill C-5 Is About
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has long been vocal about his desire to build new roads and see more energy and mining projects come to fruition in his province and he now has the legislation in place to set these plans in motion. Ford’s Progressive Conservative government was successful in its bid to pass Bill 5, a piece of legislation that allows the province to exempt companies or projects from compliance with any provincial law, provincial regulat…
Local councillor signs letter opposing province's Bill 5
FERGUS – Centre Wellington councillor Bronwynne Wilton has signed her name to a letter speaking out against Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. And while the bill passed third reading on June 4 amid protests by Indigenous peoples and environmentalists, Wilton still had hope Premier Doug Ford might change his mind…
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