Can the NDP stall Bill 5? Party will use ‘every tool' to delay controversial law
Opposition politicians are planning to throw a slew of stall tactics at the legislative process to try to delay the Ford government's controversial new mining legislation — and try and stop it from passing before the legislature rises for the summer.
The province is in the middle of passing Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, proposed to speed up mining projects in northern Ontario, which also makes major changes to the laws governing protected species.
As part of the legislation, the government also wants to establish special economic zones that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects.
Environmental advocates, First Nations leaders and opposition parties have decried the bill as a 'power grab' that goes far beyond what is needed to speed up major projects.
While the Progressive Conservatives have a large majority at Queen's Park, which ultimately means they are able to pass any legislation that has caucus support, opposition parties have technical tools to stall the process.
Story continues below advertisement
The Ontario NDP is planning to use its powers at committee, which is currently studying Bill 5, to throw as much sand in the gears as it can.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Party officials say they are going to put as many speakers forward as they are allowed on each amendment to the bill and request 20-minute recesses before every vote.
The short-term aim is to force the committee to run until midnight on Wednesday, going into Thursday. With only five days of legislative sittings left until the summer break begins, the party hopes to run the clock down entirely and stop Bill 5 from passing before the spring session ends.
An NDP spokesperson said they were trying to give the government 'as much time as humanly possible to do the right thing' and scrap Bill 5.
'Every Ontarian should be concerned about this,' Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said on Wednesday morning.
'What this government is doing is passing legislation to give them unfettered access to power. It's a power grab creating no-law zones — opportunities, frankly, for corruption.'
The party hopes that, if it can delay committee long enough, it can force another day of debate where the bill would be subject to clause-by-clause analysis. Once Bill 5 leaves the committee stage, they plan to employ fresh delay tactics to stall out the clock.
Story continues below advertisement
The NDP said it would use 'every tool in the toolbox' to slow down the legislation.
The delays come as the Ford government tries to mitigate First Nations' criticism of Bill 5 by adding new language to the proposed law confirming it will consult with local groups before instituting its controversial special economic zones.
Part of the cause of the backlash is the government's plan to designate the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario as the first such zone. That move set off a firestorm of anger among First Nations, many of which have pledged to take the fight to the land and the courts.
On Wednesday morning, Ontario Premier Doug Ford also tried to strike a collaborative tone.
'We're always going to respect the duty to consult and their treaty rights,' he said. 'We're going to work with them and collaborate with them.'
Ford said the legislation was put forward because the country is in an 'economic war' with Trump.
'We want prosperity for the First Nations communities right across our province,' he said.
The premier's office did not address questions about how it would respond to the NDP's stall tactics or if it would extend the spring sitting if necessary to pass the bill, only saying comments by Ford and his cabinet ministers stood.
Story continues below advertisement
— with files from The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Pipeline politics and economic corridor dominate first ministers meeting in Saskatoon
The national unity that coalesced because of U.S. President Donald Trump's threats against Canada was wobbly during the first ministers meeting in Saskatoon on Monday as B.C.'s deputy premier acknowledged a 'difference of opinion' with Alberta over the need for a new pipeline to Prince Rupert. With no project currently proposed for a pipeline to the north coast of the province, B.C. would rather see the existing Trans-Mountain Pipeline to Burnaby brought to full capacity through the dredging of Burrard Inlet, which would allow larger ships to carry more oil out of the Port of Vancouver. 'There's no proponent at this time. There's no project that is really there to look at,' said Niki Sharma, who is representing the province while Premier David Eby is on a 10-day trade mission to Asia. 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. 'There is a pipeline that's operating through B.C. in the TMX, and I understand there's discussions about increasing the capacity of that. The projects that we're going to be bringing forward are about clean energy and critical minerals in our province and economic corridors.' Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said there could be a 'national unity crisis' if Prime Minister Mark Carney doesn't agree to remove the tanker ban off the Pacific coast and help increase Alberta's ability to export oil and gas to markets other than the U.S. She has also said that a new pipeline is needed to fulfil the 'grand bargain' that is decarbonization of her province's oilsands through carbon capture and storage. She estimates that project will cost at least $16 billion. The path that Smith wants to see the pipeline take is similar to the Northern Gateway project that was cancelled in 2016 in the face of opposition from numerous First Nations and the federal government. 'Having an energy corridor to northern British Columbia that includes a bitumen pipeline would be a good first step in the communique, understanding that we won't get a serious proponent from the private sector unless we address those underlying conditions,' she said Monday. Sharma said it is 'unfortunate that national unity is even on the table' and that she wants to see provincial and territorial leaders agree to a path that they can move forward together on. For his part, Carney said following the meeting that there is definitely the possibility for a pipeline to be built to B.C.'s north coast. 'It provides diversification of trade partners. It provides the development of new industries. It provides economic activity across the west and into the north. So, yes, there's real potential there,' said the prime minister. 'We took up a good deal of our time and discussions and potential to move forward on that. And if further developed, the federal government will look to advance it.' In a statement released after the meeting was over, Sharma reiterated her position that the province is focused on getting the North Coast Transmission Line built as well as possibly helping the Trans-Mountain Pipeline reach its full capacity. She said that building a 'theoretical' pipeline connecting to B.C.'s north coast is not a focus. 'We are focusing on shovel-ready projects,' Sharma said, 'not theoretical projects with no proponents. There is also an existing, underused pipeline Canadian taxpayers paid $34 billion for, with capacity to spare. By focusing on ready-to-go projects instead, we can work together to build Canada's stronger economy.' Where B.C. is in lock-step with its provincial counterparts, particularly those from the Western provinces, is the need for an economic corridor linking Prince Rupert and B.C.'s coast to the Port of Churchill in Manitoba and Grays Bay in Nunavut. At a meeting of the premiers of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as the northern territories in May, there was a collective agreement that key infrastructure such as roads, highways and railways need to be expanded between the western provinces to facilitate interprovincial trade. They also said that the infrastructure would help move goods such as critical minerals, uranium, potash and natural gas to markets both in Asia and along the eastern seaboard. Carney has made the idea of a 'One Canada Economy' a centrepiece of his plan to counter U.S. economic threats and said that trade barriers between provinces and territories need to be eliminated by July 1. His express goal for the meeting was for premiers to put a list of projects 'of national importance' on the table for discussion but, while he has also talked about the need to make the country an 'energy superpower,' he has tempered that by saying a pipeline is only on the table if there is consensus between premiers. Werner Antweiler, a UBC economics professor, said there is a lot of 'wishful thinking' floating around regarding the potential for a pipeline to B.C.'s north coast, and that unless a proponent steps forward and the tanker ban is lifted, it is unlikely to happen. At the same time, he said the wider conversation around an economic corridor is critical, particularly when it comes to the expansion of ports such as Prince Rupert and Churchill to get more goods to market. 'There are some very sensible proposals, especially about the port facilities. Some of this has been discussed for many years. It will come down to what is the amount of money that the federal government is putting into any of these projects,' said Antweiler. Reid Skelton-Morven, a Prince Rupert councillor and member of the Ts'msyen and Nisga'a Nations, said a $750-million expansion of the city's port is well underway. He said he was greatly supportive of the idea of a western economic corridor, but that it needs to be done in concert with all levels of government as well as First Nations. 'A decade ago, this might have been kind of really far fetched, but today, with sinking global markets, rising logistics costs and the pressure on existing infrastructure, we need big and visionary moves like this one,' said Skelton-Morven. 'These projects can't just pass through all of our communities, they need to build them up from the ground up.' alazenby@
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Former national chief calls for list of demands as PM, premiers talk infrastructure
OTTAWA — The former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is calling for an emergency meeting of chiefs to come up with demands for Canada's governments as they look to fast-track projects they see as in the 'national interest.' Phil Fontaine said the federal, provincial and territorial governments are trying to demolish First Nations rights and interests as they move to accelerate project approvals in a way that does not 'honour the First Peoples.' 'It's been a long time since I've been to a gathering such as this one -- a rally -- to demonstrate our undying commitment to the protection of the land and our resources and our water,' Fontaine said in front of hundreds of protesters outside Queen's Park on Monday. First Nations leaders gathered at Ontario's legislature to oppose a bill that would give Premier Doug Ford's government the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas deemed to have economic importance. Similar measures are being pursued in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec and the federal government is expected to table fast-track legislation of its own in the coming days. First Nations leaders have warned they're not afraid to revive the Indigenous rights movement Idle No More if governments move forward without their input. Fontaine said he wants current National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak to convene an emergency meeting of chiefs from across the country to bring forward a list of demands for the governments. 'It's absolutely important. It's urgent that the national chief convene this gathering,' he said, adding First Nations are being excluded from 'all the very important discussions taking place right now.' 'We have to take matters into our own hands. And we will do it in the most kindest way possible, but in a very determined way to express, once again, who we are -- the First Peoples, treaty people.' Fontaine's call came as Prime Minister Mark Carney met with premiers in Saskatoon Monday to discuss a draft list of 'national interest' projects and planned federal legislation to fast-track development. That legislation is intended to speed up work on certain projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process as a substitute for reviews under the Impact Assessment Act. After his meeting with premiers on Monday, Carney pledged that the legislation on nation-building projects will include meaningful consultation. 'All first ministers agree that Indigenous partnerships and equity will be central to success,' he told reporters at a news conference. 'Upcoming federal legislation will mandate both meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples both during the process of determining which projects are in the national interest, and developing the conditions for each project.' First Nations leaders have warned that introducing the legislation without proper consultation would violate their rights and undermine treaties they signed with the Crown. In a letter sent to Carney on Friday, Woodhouse Nepinak said that while the Assembly of First Nations supports efforts to protect Canada from geopolitical and economic uncertainty, First Nations rights under international law and the Constitution are 'at stake in this legislation.' The federal government gave First Nations leaders a short briefing document on the legislation last Monday and asked them to report any concerns they had about the plan by the end of that week -- even as chiefs in the Prairies were dealing with emergency wildfire evacuations and as leaders were busy mounting opposition to provincial legislation. 'First Nations' free, prior and informed consent must first be obtained,' Woodhouse Nepinak wrote in her letter to Carney. 'Otherwise, this legislation, like so many before it, will become marred in conflict and protracted litigation because First Nations rights have once again been ignored.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
CBC
5 hours ago
- CBC
Pride Winnipeg disappointed with PCs after Official Opposition skips out on parade
The president of Pride Winnipeg says he's disappointed the Manitoba Progressive Conservative caucus did not participate formally in Sunday's Pride parade after taking part in every parade since 2017. Pride Winnipeg president Barry Karlenzig said PC Leader Obby Khan and other PC MLAs did not sign up as an entry in the annual parade. "It's disappointing to me because when the PCs were in power, we did receive the provincial grants to start Manitoba Pride Alliance and we were told they support the queer community," Karlenzig said Monday. "This shows wholeheartedly that that was just speech. They don't support the community. If they supported the community, they would have been there to celebrate our diverse community." The PCs formally entered all but one parade when Brian Pallister served as premier, both parades when Heather Stefanson was premier and in 2024, when interim leader Wayne Ewasko led the party. Obby Khan, who won the PC leadership race in April, said Sunday's Pride parade "looked like it was a great time" but did not offer an explanation why he and his caucus did not walk in it. "MLAs are free to attend if they want to attend. I don't know what every MLA's schedule was. I know my schedule was what it was," Khan said. "Also, you know, I had a prior commitment. I wasn't invited and I don't want the story to be about me attending Pride. This is about communities, about a celebration. It's about communities about the rights and that's what we want to focus on." WATCH | Manitoba Progressive Conservatives did not attend Winnipeg Pride parade: Manitoba Progressive Conservatives did not attend Winnipeg Pride parade 1 hour ago Duration 2:44 Karlenzig said the PCs did not need an invitation to sign up for the parade. The only formal invitations were sent to the premier, mayor, prime minister and the grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, he said. Karlenzig noted Stefanson even walked in the parade the one year she was asked not to speak at the Pride rally. Khan said it's important to note the former PC government's financial support for both Pride Winnipeg and the Rainbow Resource Centre. Earlier this spring, when he was running for PC leader, Khan also said he was not aware the term "parental rights" could have been perceived as a transphobic dog whistle during the 2023 provincial election campaign, when he served as the face of a PC "parental rights" campaign platform promise he described as an effort to combat bullying in schools. "I was aware after the campaign, actually, that some people would use that as a dog whistle. It was not my intent at all. I don't believe in that at all," Khan said in an interview on March 7. Khan said as a member of a visible minority, he has faced and continues to face discrimination and he feels strongly about the rights of every Manitoban.
