First Nations threaten highway blockages over Ford government's Bill 5
The leader of an Ontario First Nation is warning the Ford government it could face lawsuits, protests and disruptions of major GTA-area highways if the province passes the controversial Bill 5 into law.
The legislation, which critics say gives the Premier and his cabinet extraordinary powers to create 'no law zones' across Ontario, is set to be fast-tracked this week before MPPs break for the summer.
Once it passes, the government is promising to honour the province's duty to consult obligations by meeting with First Nations during the summer about its proposal to create Indigenous-led economic zones, allowing Northern Ontario communities to fast-track infrastructure projects.
First Nation leaders, however, have already signalled that the Ford government's efforts have fallen flat with Indigenous communities, which are now preparing for an Idle No More-style confrontation.
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'It's going to start to look like rallies. It could look like highways being shut down during major weekends, that Ontarians like to drive on to their cottages,' Shelly Moore-Frappier, Chief of the Temagami First Nation, told Focus Ontario.
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While Moore-Frappier said First Nations are also considering legal action against Bill 5, she underscored that actions, such as blockading Highway 400 – a major access point used by cottage country travellers, including Premier Ford – is under serious consideration.
'It's a guarantee,' Moore-Frappier said of First Nation protests. 'What else do we have left to do when they're ignoring the concerns that we have and they're refusing to consult with First Nations?'
On Friday, Premier Ford said highway blockades would be 'very disappointing' and suggested First Nations would lose public support if they disrupted heavily used highways.
'What I'm understanding, there's a very small vocal group that are saying this,' Ford said.
'They think that Ontarians and Canadians are gonna be in favour when you block a railroad, you block a road? That's counterproductive,' Ford said.
While the government has scrambled to repair the bill in order to avoid confrontation with Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario, First Nations chiefs have rejected the proposals as 'after the fact' consultation.
'They're going to pass the bill and then we're waiting on the graciousness of the crown,' Moore Frappier said. 'We can't be betting on essentially good words.'
While Moore-Frappier said the government needs to consult the rights holders of the lands that could be designated economic zones in order to pave the way ahead, Premier Ford said his party is 'moving forward' with communities that are on board with the province's plans.
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'There's certain areas, they just don't wanna do anything, fine,' Ford said on Friday. 'You don't want to do anything? You're left behind.'
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Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Officials on alert, protesters' voices heard as world leaders arrive in Calgary for G7 summit
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The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting Trump and other leaders of the world's richest democracies for three days of talks at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, where the 2002 G8 gathering was held. 'It's just awesome to see there's so many different causes being called attention to,' said Leanne Mackenzie, who carried a sign at the city hall rally targeting Trump. 'I'm going to take this opportunity to come here today to call attention to the rest of the G7 world that's here,' Mackenzie added. 'I chose to specifically target fascism and keeping it out of Canada, and showing that this is what we're going towards in the U.S. That's terrifying to me.' Carney is scheduled to meet with Trump early Monday morning. The meeting will take place ahead of the official G7 welcoming ceremony at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. 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Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Ahead of G7 summit, protesters gather at Calgary city hall to 'raise our voices'
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Vancouver Sun
5 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Security ramps up, protesters gather as world leaders land in Calgary for start of G7 summit
World leaders began arriving in Calgary for Sunday's start of the G7 summit as hundreds of boisterous protesters demonstrated downtown amid a heavy security presence. Hundreds of people chanted and waved signs at designated protest zones in the city, some declaring their anger at those attending the summit an hour away in Kananaskis. Several groups held rallies outside Calgary City Hall, including demonstrations for Indigenous water rights, peace in Kashmir and an end to violence in Ethiopia's Amhara region. Hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters also joined the designated protest zone, along with others denouncing Donald Trump and what they described as rising fascism in the U.S. The large crowd of roughly 400 people later marched through downtown, blocking traffic on Macleod Trail and prompting additional road closures. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders of the world's richest democracies for three days in Kananaskis, the site of the 2002 G8 gathering. 'It's just awesome to see there's so many different causes being called attention to,' said Leanne Mackenzie, who carried a sign at the city hall rally targeting Trump. 'I'm going to take this opportunity to come here today to call attention to the rest of the G7 world that's here,' Mackenzie added. 'I chose to specifically target fascism and keeping it out of Canada, and showing that this is what we're going towards in the U.S. That's terrifying to me.' Carney is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump early Monday morning, Postmedia has confirmed. The meeting will take place ahead of the official G7 welcoming ceremony at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. Summit officials erected a sign informing demonstrators the rallies were being live-streamed to the G7 summit Kananaskis site 'for the purpose of allowing individuals to be seen and heard.' City officials designated three protest zones to accommodate demonstrations — city hall, Enoch/East Victoria Park and another near the Calgary airport. Banff is also bracing for demonstrators, where a rally is planned for the town's designated protest site on Monday afternoon. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was the first to arrive Sunday at Calgary International Airport, followed two hours later by Carney and the Canadian delegation. Carney met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Ottawa Sunday morning before the two left for Calgary. Other G7 members include France, Germany, Italy and Japan, along with the European Union. Also attending at Carney's invitation are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with Albanese, and the leaders of Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. Carney was scheduled for back-to-back meetings with Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Calgary before leaving for Kananaskis, where he was to meet with Treaty 7 First Nations leaders and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He will also have a one-on-one meeting with Trump early Monday, according to media reports. Trump was not expected to arrive until late Sunday. At the airport Sunday, Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Premier Danielle Smith and First Nations representatives welcomed leaders from the G7 nations and invited non-member countries as they arrived. Smith will also host an evening reception in Calgary on Monday and hold bilateral meetings throughout the summit. Arriving G8 leaders received a traditional Calgary white-hat welcome ahead of the 2002 summit as they were handed a Smithbilt hat on the airport tarmac by then-mayor Dave Bronconnier. Delegates arriving Sunday did receive a trademark hat and other gifts, but security concerns meant there was no ceremony of western hospitality for the VIP visitors. Law enforcement officers from across Western Canada have descended on Calgary to help support the security effort for activities relating to the summit. Officers from Vancouver have patrolled the streets of downtown Calgary near city hall, while members of the Tsuut'ina Nation, Edmonton and Winnipeg police services are also expected to assist, working alongside the Calgary Police Service , Alberta Sheriffs and RCMP. In Kananaskis Country, the RCMP has established a large, controlled access zone around key summit venues, which lasts through June 18. Raven McLaren was among a group of protesters at the city hall rally who welcomed the opportunity to protest Trump's visit. 'I'm here in protest today showing my Canadian unity in the face of Donald Trump's threats and attacks against my country,' McLaren said. 'Now that he's here in my country, I feel compelled to be here. 'He's made himself to be the enemy of Canada, and the enemy is in our country,' McLaren added. 'We're a nation of diversity, equity and inclusion, and (Trump) can't take that away from us.' McLaren was joined by Tiffany Junghans, who echoed his sentiments. 'The G7 is a very important conference. We're lucky there are so many eyes here,' she said. 'We're very proud to be Canadian and very proud to exercise our rights and privileges to protest.' As protesters ventured outside the designated demonstration zone into the streets of downtown, CPS expressed concern, writing on social media: 'An unauthorized march has occurred and we (are) working with demonstrators to comply with traffic safety rules.' Another post: 'There are about 400 people marching (and) our concern is around the safety of demonstrators (and) other motorists.' The demonstration interfered with Calgary fire responses, according to Calgary police: 'We've been made aware that two calls for service for Calgary Fire Department were impacted by the demonstration,' CPS wrote on social media. By 3:15 p.m., all roads in downtown had reopened and demonstrators had returned to City Hall, according to CPS. Calgary police warned all road users to be mindful of motorcades in Calgary and area throughout the duration of the G7 summit. The City of Calgary is warning drivers to expect road closures and delays around the Calgary International Airport and downtown core as leaders and delegates arrive for the summit. The airport tunnel is closed until June 18, meaning commuters from northeast Calgary will need to find alternate routes. The off-ramp from 19th Street to eastbound Airport Trail N.E. is also closed during this period, though the rest of Airport Trail remains open. A security checkpoint has been set up at the north end of McCall Way N.E., restricting access to airport employees and business traffic only. The city also noted that additional rolling closures may occur as motorcades transport delegates to and from the airport. Meanwhile in Banff, visitors and locals noticed an influx of security in the mountain town by Sunday. Despite excitement from some around the G7, the town itself wasn't any busier than usual , according to one tourist. 'I've seen Banff a lot busier than this . . . I've been here almost five, six times,' said Joanne Morgan, who was visiting Banff with her two sisters from Ireland. Patrick O'Connor, who works in Banff, said the crowds have been normal for this time of year, despite the exciting potential of world leaders visiting Banff. 'It's exciting to know that the top seven leaders of the world economies are here in the area to talk about the world economy,' he said.
