Latest news with #LiamCasey
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ontario to make Ring of Fire a special economic zone 'as quickly as possible': Ford
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province intends to designate the mineral-rich Ring of Fire as a special economic zone as quickly as possible. He says he and several ministers will consult all summer with First Nations about the new law that allows the Ontario government to suspend provincial and municipal rules before making the designation. The law seeks to speed up the building of large projects, particularly mines. First Nations are livid about the new law and say it tramples their rights and ignores their concerns. The province passed Bill 5 on Wednesday despite several weeks of First Nations protests throughout the province and at Queen's Park. Critics also say the bill guts protections for endangered and threatened species. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025. Liam Casey and Allison Jones, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Last-minute changes to Ontario mining bill are not good enough, First Nations say
TORONTO — Ontario First Nations say the provincial government's last-minute changes to a controversial mining bill are not good enough and have come too late. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario, says the province should scrap Bill 5 and draft new legislation alongside Indigenous leadership. The proposed law seeks to speed up the development of large projects such as mines, and while First Nations are not necessarily opposed to such moves, they want a seat at the decision-making table. The legislation proposes to create so-called "special economic zones" that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects. The province intends to name the Ring of Fire as the first such zone, but ministers have promised that affected First Nations will be consulted first. A filibuster by New Democrats and Liberals forced a delay in the committee process to adopt the bill, but the province still hopes to pass the bill into law next week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Road, rail and mine blockades could be on horizon over Ontario mining bill: chiefs
TORONTO — Road, rail and mine blockades could be on the horizon as First Nations ratchet up pressure on the Ontario government to kill a proposed bill that seeks to speed up large mining projects in the north. 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. The proposed law has sparked anger among First Nations, environmentalists and civil liberty groups who say the bill tramples rights and guts protections for endangered species. The province is set to create so-called special economic zones that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects. Premier Doug Ford has said the province intends to declare the critical mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario one such zone. First Nation chiefs are at Queen's Park today to tell a committee studying the bill that it n does not respect the province's duty to consult and other obligations as laid out in Treaty No. 9. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
