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Global News
7 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
Ford says blockades ‘wouldn't be very wise' as government moves to pass Bill 5
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says First Nations groups who blockade critical infrastructure will be 'dealt with appropriately' as tensions peak over his controversial mining legislation, with expectations it could pass today. Among other changes, Bill 5, or the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, will create so-called special economic zones where a range of laws, ranging from municipal approvals to environmental rules or even labour law, won't apply. The proposed law has sparked protests from First Nations leaders at Queen's Park who fear it will infringe upon their rights. They have threatened that if the bill passes, more protests will follow, including the possible blockade of highways, railways and mines. On Wednesday, Ford addressed the potential for protests if his legislation passes and warned Indigenous leaders not to disrupt infrastructure around the province. 'You can't break the law, simple as that,' the premier said. 'If any of us were to go stand and block the highway — they need to move on or they'll be dealt with appropriately. They cannot just break the law, and I don't think the people of Ontario would be there supporting them.' Story continues below advertisement He added the protests 'wouldn't be very wise.' 1:46 First Nations members protest Ontario mining bill at Queen's Park In the face of some of the backlash from First Nations groups, the government introduced a number of amendments to parts of the legislation, including a change to the law's preamble. 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 The proposed legislation has had an increasingly bumpy ride toward being passed into law, despite the Progressive Conservatives' significant majority at Queen's Park. When Bill 5 made its way to committee last week, the Ontario NDP and Liberals banded together to filibuster proceedings and force an extra day of committee hearings on the legislation. That day came on Tuesday when the Liberals tabled 4,000 amendments to the law in an attempt to block the government from making its own changes to the bill. They partly succeeded, with only 14 of the province's 26 amendments passed. Story continues below advertisement The move was designed to force the province to hit pause, rather than pass its law without the amendments it pledged to show it was listening to concerns. On Wednesday, however, Ford blamed the Liberals for 'playing politics' and appeared to indicate he would pass the bill without all the changes. 'It's a shame that they want to play politics and try and run out the clock and now allow us to put in amendments, but what I can assure you, with Indigenous communities across Ontario, we're going to have (a) duty to consult, we're going to respect treaty rights,' Ford said. The Progressive Conservatives have fast-tracked parts of Bill 5 with a motion to allow it to pass its third and final reading with only one hour of debate. That should allow MPPs to pass the bill into law sometime on Wednesday or Thursday. 8:17 First Nation leader says Bill 5 will spark protests, blockade of Hwy. 400 Opposition politicians, as they've tried to slow the legislation, have warned that its special economic zones will create 'no-law' areas, suggesting they could be used for a variety of projects. Story continues below advertisement Ford himself appeared to indicate last week that he would eventually designate Highway 401 and nuclear power plants as special economic zones where laws can be sidestepped in order to speed up construction. 'We're down to the final hours before the government intends to impose a vote on Bill 5 and pass this law,' Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said on Wednesday morning. 'This bill should not be going to a vote, there has not been proper consultation. The idea, as the premier says all the time, you are going to consult after the fact just doesn't cut it.' The NDP, Liberals and Greens are all calling on Ford to abandon the bill entirely.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ontario NDP, Liberals successfully stall Bill 5 after filibustering until midnight Thursday
Bill 5 was successfully stalled in committee after Ontario NDP and Liberal MPPs filibustered from around 4 p.m. on Wednesday until midnight Thursday. The filibuster has blocked the controversial bill from going into its third and final reading, as the committee process will now continue into next week, Ontario NDP said in a statement on X just after midnight on Thursday. The MPPs "used every committee tool to delay progress [on] Ford's attempt to rush through this legislation without proper consultation," the statement said. Bill 5 would create so-called "special economic zones" where the government can exempt companies or projects from complying with provincial laws or regulations. It would also replace the province's endangered species act, replacing it with an new law that critics say waters down protections. The bill has been criticized by First Nations, environmentalists and legal advocates, who have said the proposed law would gut environmental protections for wildlife and infringe on treaty rights. Leader of the Official Opposition Marit Stiles participated in Wednesday's filibuster. She addressed Ontario Premier Doug Ford directly in a post on X around 12:20 a.m. Thursday. "Your government now has the time and opportunity to do the right thing: Scrap Bill 5. Let's go back to the drawing board, and do this right," the post read. Monday is the earliest the committee process can continue, Liberal MPP Ted Hsu said in a video on X around 1 a.m. Thursday. A spokesperson for the premier's office did not directly address the filibuster in an email Thursday morning. "The Premier's and Ministers' comments yesterday stand as response on matter related to Bill 5," spokesperson Hannah Jensen wrote. WATCH | Ontario First Nations leaders say communities will take a stand if bill passes: After question period at Queen's Park on Wednesday, Energy and Mining Minister Stephen Lecce said the government brought forward the bill "in good faith" after hearing concerns from Ontarians about delays for mining projects. He said the government is committing to responsible resource development and policy, while upholding its duty to consult with First Nations under Treaty 9. "We think we can do both, we think we found that balance but we understand we've got to keep listening," Lecce said on Wednesday. Speaking at Queen's Park on Wednesday evening, Ontario NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa said the MPPs would debate the 40 clauses in the amendment, line-by-line, during the filibuster. "We cannot stop the bill, but we can certainly slow down the processes that are there," Mamakwa said. The government attempted a motion to continue Wednesday's committee meeting until 9 a.m. on Thursday, but that motion failed, a spokesperson for the Ontario NDP said. During the filibuster, Stiles said the government initially scheduled the committee to sit until 12 a.m. Thursday, which she said "is bad enough," before attempting to extend it into the morning. "While the rest of us are in agreement that we should move this committee to daytime hours, the government is making sure that this committee is taking place under the cover of darkness," she said, speaking around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Ford government put forward amendments to the bill on Wednesday in response to criticism, including that the government will also create "Indigenous led economic zones." But opposition leaders say the government hasn't defined what this means. The government also introduced what are known as duty to consult provisions. "Regulations under this Act shall be made in a manner consistent with the recognition and affirmation of existing Aboriginal and treaty rights in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, including the duty to consult," the proposed amendment reads, according to an email from the premier's office Wednesday. But First Nations leaders in Ontario say the government already failed in its duty to consult. They want the province to start over and involve First Nations in drafting a new bill.
Global News
6 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Opposition parties successfully delay Ford government's Bill 5 by filibustering
A rare moment of unity among Ontario's opposition parties frustrated the Ford government's attempts to pass its controversial mining legislation — which would create special economic zones where laws do not apply — in the early moments of Thursday morning. The province is in the midst of passing Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, which it hopes will speed up mining projects and will also make major changes to the laws governing protected species. The creation of special economic zones is the part of the legislation which has led to the most backlash — with critics calling it a 'power grab.' On Wednesday, as Bill 5 was subject to a clause-by-clause analysis at a legislative committee, opposition parties united to employ a series of stall, delay and filibuster tactics to try and stop the government from passing the legislation before the spring session ends next week. Story continues below advertisement The Ontario NDP worked to stack the list of speakers on committee to try to speak for as long as its members could and repeatedly requested breaks. The Liberals tabled the largest number of amendments to the bill. 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 The parties were aiming to run the clock for as long as possible at the committee hearings to stop the bill from leaving the committee process, where it would return for a final vote and debate before being passed. Despite a last-minute government motion to have the committee study Bill 5 overnight, sitting until 9 a.m. the next morning, the opposition parties succeeded and proceedings wrapped at midnight. NDP and Liberal MPPs accused the government of trying to hold its committee 'under the cover of darkness' to push through the bill. The committee is now not likely to meet again until Monday, which would further delay the legislation from returning for debate and its final reading. MPPs are scheduled to rise for the summer next Thursday, although the government can extend the sitting if it chooses. House Leader Steve Clark said he was still sure the government could rise on time and pass the legislation. 'I'm confident that we can move forward with the priority government bills in this session,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'I am confident that I can use the existing calendar to drive the government's agenda before the end of next week.'
Global News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
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
Global News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Greenbelt, mandate letter emails unearthed on Ford government staffers' personal accounts
Multiple former Ford government staffers have turned over emails from their personal accounts relating to the Greenbelt and drafting mandate letters, Global News has learned, after the Information and Privacy Commissioner ordered them to search their accounts for communications relating to official government business. Among the staffers to discover emails which they had previously failed to disclose was the former executive assistant to Premier Doug Ford, who handed officials an email he received from a developer relating to the Greenbelt. The emails, turned over to the Ontario NDP as part of a freedom of information appeal, reveal that a developer thanked Ford's executive assistant for 'taking the time to further assist' with their 'Greenbelt glitch.' The email was sent on July 4, 2022, just days after then-housing minister Steve Clark was issued a mandate letter in which Ford instructed him to 'codify processes for swaps, expansions, contractions and policy updates for the Greenbelt.' Story continues below advertisement A spokesperson for the premier's office defended the discovery of the emails. 'At the request of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and out of an abundance of caution, our office contacted former staff members to confirm any records they may have had on personal accounts,' they said. 'Draft Records related to the broad policy proposal were created during a transition period immediately following the election. Final versions of those records have been previously identified in this request, and relevant portions have been released publicly.' Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles suggested the use of personal accounts was a deliberate strategy to conceal communications. 'What we've found is increasingly there's a pattern of the government, top political staffers in the premier's office, actually making it very difficult, hiding information, emails in private accounts as a way to get around the laws that clearly say people have a right to know,' she said. 'What's shocking is the extent to which they've tried to hide this.' Greenbelt glitch email One of the emails held on a personal account pertained to Sergio Manchia, the principal of Urbancore Developments. Story continues below advertisement He had, for the better part of 20 years, been lobbying the province to remove a four-hectare piece of land in Hamilton from the Greenbelt. 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 In the summer of 2022, however, the effort to convert the property into residential land took on renewed urgency when Manchia and his colleagues learned the Ford government was considering changes to the Greenbelt. 'I do recall we were anticipating an announcement,' Manchia told Ontario's integrity commissioner during the office's Greenbelt investigation. As word of the impending land removals began to spread, Manchia emailed two members of Ford's office on July 4 and 5, 2022: Ford's then-executive assistant and the then-executive director of stakeholder relations. Both were contacted by Manchia using their private email addresses. 'Thank you for taking the time to further assist us along with respect to our 4 ha Greenbelt 'glitch' that we have been working along with the City of Hamilton, with Province now for some time,' Manchia said in the first email. 'As per our discussion, I wanted to send you some mapping that might just help when describing what I was trying to explain,' Manchia said in a second email about his Greenbelt property in Hamilton. In one email, Manchia thanks the two Ford staffers and asks them to 'please advise our next steps.' Story continues below advertisement Weeks after those emails, according to the integrity commissioner's report, Manchia and his team participated in phone calls with senior staff in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. They eventually took part in in-person meetings to directly discuss the property. Manchia then purchased four tickets to a stag and doe wedding fundraiser held in the Ford family backyard in August of 2022 — an event attended by other individuals connected to the Greenbelt scandal, according to information made public by the integrity commissioner. Ford told the integrity commissioner that he had no recollection of meeting Manchia or having any conversations about the Greenbelt property. 'The sole record relating to a specific property was sent to an individual with no involvement in this file related to a proposal for removal that had long-standing support from the local municipality, including a letter from the then-mayor of Hamilton and a council resolution,' the premier's office said. Manchia did not respond to questions from Global News ahead of publication. Private email used to draft mandate letters The Greenbelt email wasn't the only government communication held on the personal email accounts of former staffers. Story continues below advertisement In fact, a small tranche of documents was handed over to the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) after 15 former members of the premier's office were ordered to search their private email accounts and devices to look for Greenbelt-related records. 'Seventeen records have been located,' the IPC said in a letter sent to the NDP and shared with Global News. Among the records were 16 'draft versions' of the 2022 mandate letters Ford would eventually give his cabinet ministers, outlining the direction and expectations as crafted by the premier's office. The records included 'draft versions of slides' and the 'final slide deck' of mandate letters — official government records that were being drafted on private email servers. The emails located by former staffers relate to the Greenbelt in some way; it is not clear if other government emails were also contained on those accounts unrelated to the Greenbelt. The premier's office said all 15 staff did not locate records but did not answer how many had ended up finding messages. The Manchia emails, the IPC said, were 'located by a former premier's office staff member in his personal email account.' The staffer claimed he 'did not recall receiving the emails' and 'does not know how the developer had obtained his personal email account.' Story continues below advertisement The IPC's office added that the staffer said that he didn't solicit, respond to or forward the emails. 'The staff member has also confirmed that he did not have any discussions or communications with the developer or anyone on the developer's behalf about the emails nor the subject matter of the emails,' the IPC's office said. A 'pattern' of personal devices The revelations unearthed by the NDP are the latest in a series of instances where staff in the Ford government appear to be using personal phones and email accounts to communicate. At the end of last year, Premier Ford was ordered to hand over records from his personal device, which the IPC said he was likely using to do government business. The province is currently appealing that ruling, seeking a judicial review. Story continues below advertisement 'I think it is absolutely a deliberate pattern where this government is trying to hide from the law,' Stiles said. 'We have an RCMP criminal investigation underway, I am sure we will see something come from that eventually. But in the meantime, Ontarians have a right to know exactly what happened here.' Elsewhere, Ford's chief of staff lost months' worth of government-related texts on his personal phone and has used his Gmail account to plan government policy. 'These are the very top political staff inside the premier's office,' Stiles said. 'There's no way the premier didn't know what was going on.' The former housing minister's chief of staff has also been ordered to search his personal account for Greenbelt-related emails. He must either hand them over or sign a sworn affidavit saying they do not exist.
