Latest news with #OntariobyUnleashingourEconomyAct
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.
Global News
2 days ago
- Business
- Global News
To access Ring of Fire, Ontario needs to build a road. Internal docs say it's years away
A major portion of the road to the Ring of Fire won't be ready to begin technical permitting and construction until at least 2028, internal government documents concede, in a potentially major delay for the province's high-priority plan. A road to the mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario is at the centre of the Ford government's economic strategy, relying on mining contracts to create jobs and prosperity in the face of tariffs from the United States. It is also a key reason cited for the province's controversial Bill 5, which is likely to become law by the end of the week, despite protests and the threat of blockades from First Nations leaders. The minerals Ontario wants to access in the Ring of Fire, which include copper, platinum, palladium and nickel, are buried in an area more than 300 km north of the province's existing highway network. Story continues below advertisement In order to access them, the government will need to construct a massive series of new roads. Documents obtained by Global News using freedom of information laws show the government is currently a long way from achieving that. A briefing binder written by civil servants for Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce this year lays out the plan to build a three-part road network to the Ring of Fire. The plan involves the Webequie Supply Road, the Northern Road Link and the Marten FAlls Community Access Road. The documents show the 126-km northern link portion of the route won't finish its studies and assessments until the beginning of 2028, 'at the earliest.' Once the assessments are approved, technical permitting would then need to take place, followed by construction. View image in full screen A slide presented to Minister Stephen Lecce outlining the timelines for a road to the Ring of Fire. Global News The Ford government has said it is frustrated with the current timeline to open mines and complete major projects, the justification it has offered for tabling Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act. Story continues below advertisement That legislation allows for the creation of so-called Special Economic Zones, where cabinet would be allowed to exempt projects from a variety of environmental and potentially labour laws. Those zones, the government argued, are necessary to speed up projects. 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 In order to get closer to creating those areas, and in turn to speed up projects, the government said it is bypassing some debate and fast-tracking the proposed legislation. Ontario NDP MPP Jamie West said the fact that a road to the Ring of Fire can't currently begin construction for roughly three years suggests the mineral-rich area is not the reason for the law. 'Although Premier Ford continues to use the Ring of Fire as the main purpose for Bill 5, it's not a valid excuse for rushing it through the legislature,' Ontario NDP MPP Jamie West said in a statement. 'The Conservative government's own documents state that the Northern Link Road for the Ring of Fire can't begin construction until 2028.' The government did not address whether it would consider designating the road to the Ring of Fire as a special economic zone to allow it to bypass parts of the assessment process and begin construction earlier. While the province has said the Ring of Fire itself will eventually be designated, ministers have been keen to stress that decision won't be rushed. Story continues below advertisement Last week, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation of Ontario Greg Rickford said it was too early to discuss what would be designated as a special economic zone. 'We're not talking about the designation of an economic zone at this point,' he told reporters on May 28. 'I don't think it adds anything right now to speculate on anything.' Lecce, whose briefing binder contains the warning that the road is years away from beginning construction, said the powers wouldn't be used until consultation was complete. 'We're also committing to not utilizing the authority of the special economic zones, for example, in the Ring of Fire until we've consulted; that's an important process that's been raised from the communities,' Lecce said, also on May 28, speaking alongside Rickford. 'The regulatory process allows us to literally assess the nature of how we develop legislation, get out there, launch a public transparency opportunity for feedback and for governments to take those perspectives.' The internal government documents show just how long the process of developing a road to the Ring of Fire has been. Work on the three-part road began in 2018, with final submission of the environmental assessments for one part in 2026 and the other in 2028. The government did not answer questions about the timeline or whether Bill 5 could be used to speed up — or entirely bypass — the assessment process for the road. Story continues below advertisement Last Friday, Ford suggested the Ring of Fire, along with Highway 401 and nuclear power generation stations, could be designated. West and the NDP contend the three-year lead time for construction of a road — which must be done before minerals can be extracted from the area at any scale — shows Bill 5 has not been introduced to access the area. 'Bill 5 isn't about getting shovels in the ground. It's not about supporting mining or economic growth in the North,' West said. 'If it was, we'd see real consultation with Indigenous communities and local workers, not more behind-closed-doors decisions. This Bill is all about sweeping powers to sidestep protections and silence opposition. It has nothing to do with building up the North and everything to do with helping Ford's friends get their way.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ford government reacts to latest U.S. tariff twist, vowing to protect Ontario workers
Ontario government officials say the province remains committed to protecting workers and the economy, after a U.S. court quashed some of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down Trump's 10 per cent tariff on most countries and his 25 per cent tariffs on numerous Canadian and Mexican goods, leaving the tariffs on steel and aluminum in place. "The signals from the courts, you couldn't categorize them as good news or bad news," said Vic Fedeli, the minister of economic development, job creation and trade, at a news conference on Thursday. Fedeli says the court's decision is simply the most recent development in the daily "twists and turns" of tariffs, and that the provincial government will continue its efforts to keep Ontario workers in high-value jobs. Fedeli spoke alongside Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy about the government's latest efforts to boost Ontario's economy and protect its workers. Bethlenfalvy also said the province's number one goal with regard to the tariffs is keeping workers safe. "We want no tariffs. We want all workers [protected]. We are protecting our economy so we can keep people working, keep them in business, and support business and support families," he said. Province says mining project needed amid tariff threat Bethlenfalvy says that's why Ontario government is spending $500 million to create a new critical minerals processing fund. The fund will support projects that speed up the province's critical minerals processing capacity and made-in-Ontario supply chain, according to a Thursday news release. Minerals mined in Ontario will be processed in the province by Ontario workers, the release says. "We're investing to unlock and process these resources right here in Ontario, securing good-paying jobs and building resilient communities for the future," Bethlenfalvy said in the same news release. The $500 million investment comes as Ford's government is pushing ahead with the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, or Bill 5, which it says will speed up the approval of mining projects in Ontario. However, critics say the province is using the threat of tariffs as an excuse to loosen environmental regulations on the industry, as the legislation includes major changes to the province's endangered species and environmental protection laws. Jamie Kneen, national program co-lead for Mining Watch Canada, a non-profit advocacy group, previously told CBC Toronto it's undemocratic for the government to give itself the power to exclude mines in special economic zones from environmental regulations. He questions whether tariffs are a legitimate reason to reduce regulatory oversight of the mining sector. "They're just using this as a pretext for doing what they wanted to do already and hoping that people won't notice that the two are not really connected," Kneen said. Bethlenfalvy says both the federal and provincial governments are "very unified" on combatting tariffs and promoting economic growth for Canada and Ontario. Fedeli said it's "discouraging" to hear Trump say the U.S. doesn't need Canada, when over half of the nickel that the U.S. uses for its aerospace and defence sectors comes from Ontario. The province will continue mining and processing critical minerals, Fedeli said, sending the U.S. a "powerful signal." "Despite the rhetoric that comes from the U.S., we are going to continue being a world power in these critical minerals," he said.
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
