Latest news with #Bill5
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Rally in downtown Kitchener to protest controversial provincial bills
'Rally for People and Planet' at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener on May 31, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) A 'Rally for People and Planet' was held in downtown Kitchener on Saturday. Dozens of people gathered at Carl Zehr Square to hear from Aislinn Clancy, the deputy leader for the Green Party of Ontario and MPP for Kitchener Centre. Rally for People and Planet Kitchener Carl Zehr Square Aislinn Clancy Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy speaks at the 'Rally for People and Planet' at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener on May 31, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) The event focused on two proposed provincial laws – Bill 5 and Bill 6. Bill 6 targets homeless encampments and drug use in public spaces. If passed, police officers would have more power to arrest anyone in a public space, including a tent, who is in possession of an illegal substance. Those individuals would then face tougher penalties, including up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000. Advocates have argued that punitive measures often fail to address the issues causing homelessness and may, in fact, make them worse. Bill 5, meanwhile, seeks to speed up development for certain projects, like mining, and create 'special economic zones' where provincial and municipal laws would be suspended. The Ring of Fire is one the sites identified by the province.
Global News
a day ago
- Business
- Global News
Ford considering Hwy. 401 tunnel as special economic zone where laws could be bypassed
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is indicating that Highway 401 could be designated as a special economic zone, allowing the province to fast-track its plans to construct a transit and traffic tunnel beneath it, while sidestepping a raft of environmental and municipal laws. The province is currently in the process of passing Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, legislation it introduced to speed up mining projects in the north. Part of the legislation allows for the creation of special economic zones, areas where cabinet will be able to suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects. The projects that would qualify for the wide-ranging powers were not made public when the bill was tabled. On Friday, Ford suggested that a list of priority plans he sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney at the beginning of the month would all get the exception status. Story continues below advertisement Those projects are: developing the resource-rich Ring of Fire in Thunder Bay; expanding Ontario's nuclear power generating stations; building a deep-sea port in James Bay; massive expansion to the GO Train system; and building a tunnelled expressway under Highway 401. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Yes, we will, as we move forward,' Ford said, after being asked if he would designate all five projects as special economic zones. 'But that only goes, again, with the cooperation of the 444 municipalities, always with the First Nations communities across our province as well, especially when it comes to critical minerals.' Ford's office stressed consultation on the creation of special economic zones would continue over the summer — pointing out they will be created in regulation and not automatically land when the legislation passes. 'We want to get going on nation-building projects and will make sure it's done right,' a spokesperson said. Of the five projects, the government's Highway 401 tunnel project has received the most pushback from opposition politicians. The plan is in its infancy and has been decried by opponents as a 'half-baked, back-of-the-napkin scheme.' It would involve constructing an expressway beneath Highway 401 from Mississauga to Markham and could cost tens of billions of dollars. If it were designated as a special economic zone — as the premier suggested on Friday — the route's builders could be allowed to bypass municipal bylaws and provincial laws that govern construction projects or permitting, for example. Story continues below advertisement The government recently issued a request for bidders to study how to build the route — a process which would currently take two years. Opposition politicians have raised concerns about the scope of power special economic zones will give the government, calling the move a 'power grab' that lacks transparency. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said she feared the zones would not be limited to nation-building projects and would extend beyond without limits. 'We're not just talking about mining, we're talking about access to everyone — so every farmer, every Ontarian should be concerned about this,' she said on Wednesday. 'What this government is doing is passing legislation to give them unfettered access to power. 'It's a power grab, creating no-law zones.' The legislation that will allow for the creation of special economic zones is expected to pass sometime next week at the Ontario legislature.
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
Breaking down the Ford government's controversial Bill 5
The Ford government has been receiving criticism from Ontario's opposition parties, as well as environmental and Indigenous leaders on their controversial Bill 5. CBC's Mike Crawley breaks down what you need to know about the legislation.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Chief says infrastructure drive could trigger another Idle No More protest movement
OTTAWA - A First Nations chief is warning that Canada is 'staring down the barrel' of another wave of protests like the Idle No More movement if governments pursue 'national interest' projects without their input and consent. Anishinabek Nation Regional Chief Scott McLeod has joined a chorus of leaders from across the country who say they're alarmed by government efforts to fast-track infrastructure development. The federal government is developing a 'national interest' bill to fast-track nation-building projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process as a substitute for reviews under the Impact Assessment Act. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford is pursuing legislation — Bill 5 — that would enable cabinet to designate 'special economic zones' where companies or projects wouldn't have to comply with selected laws or regulations. McLeod said chiefs have been sending provincial and federal officials 'warning shots' about the sorts of disruptions such projects could face if Indigenous communities are not properly consulted. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak of the Assembly of First Nations issued a warning to the provinces and Ottawa, saying it 'may not end well' if they make decisions about major infrastructure projects at next week's first ministers meeting in Saskatoon without First Nations involvement. The Assembly of First Nations has long called for its inclusion at first ministers meetings but has only been able to secure secondary meetings with prime ministers ahead of the official meetings. Given the stakes of the upcoming meeting, Nepinak said First Nations exclusion is 'very disrespectful.' Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief David Pratt, meanwhile, is calling for governments to 'smarten up.' McLeod said the last time Indigenous leaders saw something like what the federal government is proposing now was 'in 2012 with Bill C-45, that had a lot of the same language and the same impacts on First Nations which sparked Idle No More. 'We all know what happened then.' The Idle No More movement was sparked by that omnibus bill, introduced by then-prime minister Stephen Harper's government. Indigenous leaders warned the bill, intended to ramp up resource development, would trample on their rights while giving governments and businesses more authority to develop resources without thorough environmental assessments. Leaders allied with the Idle No More movement staged protests, rallies and blockades on railway lines and highways and earned widespread support from across the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Indigenous leaders again left out of first ministers meeting as tensions grow
OTTAWA - The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is warning the provinces and Ottawa it 'may not end well' if they make decisions about major infrastructure projects at the upcoming first ministers meeting without First Nations involvement. First Nations leaders in Ontario, meanwhile, have a rally planned for Monday at Queen's Park to protest the provincial government's controversial Bill 5, legislation meant to speed up development. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the lack of First Nations representation at the first ministers' table is 'very disrespectful.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Assembly of First Nations has long called for its inclusion at first ministers meetings but has only been able to secure secondary meetings with prime ministers ahead of the official meetings. Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief David Pratt says governments should 'smarten up' and warns that it's 'not good business to offend and disrespect us so that we have to blockade.' He says governments should view First Nations as 'equal partners around the table,' adding that if First Nations were in decision-making positions and proposed developments in their cities, 'MPs would be up in arms.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
