Latest news with #ScottMcLeod
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Nipissing First Nation elects a new chief
It would appear that Nipissing First Nation has elected a new chief. An undated photo of the Nipissing First Nation Band Office. (Nipissing First Nation/Facebook) It would appear that Nipissing First Nation (NFN) has elected a new chief. Cathy Bellefeuille Unofficial results show that Nipissing First Nation has elected Cathy Bellefeuille to serve as chief for the next three-year term of council. An undated photo of Bellefeuille posted to social media on Jan. 4, 2023. (Facebook/Cathy Bellefeuille) Unofficial results show Cathy Bellefeuille has been elected chief for the next three-year term. Scott McLeod, who has served as chief for nine years, will step down when this council term ends at the end of July. There were six names on the ballot and more than 1,400 votes to be cast on Friday. 'A Vote for Unity' was Bellefeuille's campaign motto. Her campaign focused on working for all members both on and off the reserve, protecting NFN inherent and treaty rights while promoting economic development in order to build the community. 'I believe our First Nation has a solid foundation with a fantastic future that has been built over the years of hard work of the previous councils,' said Bellfeuille in her campaign platform. 'I am a strong advocate for health care, education, economic stability, culture, language and social development.' Bellefeuille has served as a court worker for 15 years with the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, has served as band representative and a child welfare coordinator and is actively involved with Nipissing First Nation's Ojibway Women's Lodge. She also served on NFN Council, being elected in 2015. During her tenure, she held the economic development portfolio and the health and social portfolio. Outgoing Chief McLeod posted congratulatory messages to 'all the candidates who put themselves out there to serve our great Nation,' on social media prior to the election. Scott McLeod Scott McLeod, who has served as Nipissing First Nation Chief for nine years, will step down when this council term ends at the end of July after losing his re-election bid. An undated photo of McLeod posted to social media on June 10, 2023. (Facebook/Scott McLeod Shabogesic) 'The community always makes the choice they feel is needed and we must all support the outcome,' he said. True to his words, McLeod formally congratulated Bellefeuille on her win in a subsequent social media post on Saturday morning. 'Congratulations to our new NFN Chief Cathy Bellefeuille and our newly elected Council,' he wrote. 'There are many challenges ahead. Let's all give them our full support as we move forward together.' McLeod briefly reflected on his time as chief. 'I have given my community the best I have to offer and would do it all over again in a heartbeat,' he said. 'Being Chief has been a tremendous honor and a big part of my identity for the last 9(sic) years. Letting that go, although difficult, is a necessary transition for our Nation.' McLeod told the community he will be taking some time to reflect and determine what is next but said he will post more thoughts 'in the near future.' Fred Bellefeuille, NFN's Electoral Officer, states a full report with official election results will be released on Monday. Officials with NFN told CTV News that the face for Chief was a close one but they do not expect any calls for a recount.
Toronto Star
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Anishinabek Nation chief says he briefed OPP on protests against fast-track bills
OTTAWA - A regional chief for Anishinabek Nation says he briefed Ontario Provincial Police Thursday on what to expect when First Nations take to the streets to protest provincial and federal legislation aimed at fast-tracking major projects. Scott McLeod said he was invited by an Indigenous relations coordinator to brief officers at the OPP's Orillia headquarters on why First Nations oppose the legislation and why they see the bills as a violation of treaties with the Crown.
Global News
13-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Anishinabek Nation chief says he briefed Ontario police on protests against Bill 5
A regional chief for Anishinabek Nation says he briefed Ontario Provincial Police Thursday on what to expect when First Nations take to the streets to protest provincial and federal legislation aimed at fast-tracking major projects. Scott McLeod said he was invited by an Indigenous relations coordinator to brief officers at the OPP's Orillia headquarters on why First Nations oppose the legislation and why they see the bills as a violation of treaties with the Crown. 'These territories are not just waiting idly for you to come and dig up the resources there. These territories are educational institutes. They are grocery stores. They are pharmacies for our medicines,' McLeod said in an interview with The Canadian Press. 'First Nations leaders in Ontario have consistently said that we are not against development, but the development has to occur in the spirit and intent of the treaty … It's not simply sending us to mining companies to go and get impact benefit agreements.' Story continues below advertisement Federal and provincial governments have introduced legislation intended to speed up development in response to an increasingly uncertain trade relationship with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. Both Ontario and the federal government have introduced fast-track legislation. The Ontario legislature passed Bill 5 last week and the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to speed its own Bill C-5 through the House of Commons by the end of next week. The Ontario legislation would create so-called 'special economic zones' where the province can suspend provincial and municipal laws. Doug Ford's government is expected to designate the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario as the first such zone, despite years of pushback from First Nations. 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 The federal bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the 'national interest.' Chiefs in Ontario have staged protests outside Queen's Park opposing the provincial legislation, which they say violates their rights. First Nations leaders have meanwhile warned Ottawa that it can expect to find itself in court if it doesn't properly consult with First Nations on its own legislation. McLeod said 'shutting down the economy of Ontario is not off the table' and that if police want to 'avoid another Dudley George,' they need to understand First Nations' position. Story continues below advertisement George was shot and killed during the Ipperwash crisis of 1995, when members of the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation and their supporters occupied a provincial park built on land appropriated from the First Nation in 1942. McLeod said he told the police that First Nations are abiding by their own laws by demonstrating against legislation while governments are breaking their treaty obligations. 'This isn't by chance that we're getting these bills that are almost identical,' McLeod said. 'There's no honour in the Crown going through these processes. And it's just going to not only trigger Ontario Idle No More 2.0, but it's going to trigger a nationwide Idle No More.' Idle No More was a 2012 protest movement against the omnibus Bill C-45, introduced by then-prime minister Stephen Harper's government. Indigenous leaders said 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. McLeod said as he explained to police the treaty relationship he says governments are breaking to police, 'they looked like deer in the headlights.' 'The entire foundation of Canada was built on treaties. If you disregard those treaties, you're disregarding Canada itself.' Story continues below advertisement The Ontario Provincial Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. McLeod said the job of chiefs to be 'diplomatic' has failed, and that operations are now in the hands of the grassroots. 'They're our soldiers on the ground who are going to be the ultimate resistance of any development in our territories, and they have spoken clearly that shutting down the economy of Ontario is not off the table,' he said. 'Meaning highways, meaning railways, meaning anything that is taken for granted in our territories.'
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Anishinabek Nation chief says he briefed OPP on protests against fast-track bills
Lake Huron Regional Chief Scott McLeod speaks about his opposition to Bill 5, during a press conference, at Queen's Park in Toronto, Monday, June 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston OTTAWA — A regional chief for Anishinabek Nation says he briefed Ontario Provincial Police Thursday on what to expect when First Nations take to the streets to protest provincial and federal legislation aimed at fast-tracking major projects. Scott McLeod said he was invited by an Indigenous relations coordinator to brief officers at the OPP's Orillia headquarters on why First Nations oppose the legislation and why they see the bills as a violation of treaties with the Crown. 'These territories are not just waiting idly for you to come and dig up the resources there. These territories are educational institutes. They are grocery stores. They are pharmacies for our medicines,' McLeod said in an interview with The Canadian Press. 'First Nations leaders in Ontario have consistently said that we are not against development, but the development has to occur in the spirit and intent of the treaty ... It's not simply sending us to mining companies to go and get impact benefit agreements.' Federal and provincial governments have introduced legislation intended to speed up development in response to an increasingly uncertain trade relationship with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. Both Ontario and the federal government have introduced fast-track legislation. The Ontario legislature passed Bill 5 last week and the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to speed its own Bill C-5 through the House of Commons by the end of next week. The Ontario legislation would create so-called 'special economic zones' where the province can suspend provincial and municipal laws. Doug Ford's government is expected to designate the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario as the first such zone, despite years of pushback from First Nations. The federal bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the 'national interest.' Chiefs in Ontario have staged protests outside Queen's Park opposing the provincial legislation, which they say violates their rights. First Nations leaders have meanwhile warned Ottawa that it can expect to find itself in court if it doesn't properly consult with First Nations on its own legislation. McLeod said 'shutting down the economy of Ontario is not off the table' and that if police want to 'avoid another Dudley George,' they need to understand First Nations' position. George was shot and killed during the Ipperwash crisis of 1995, when members of the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation and their supporters occupied a provincial park built on land appropriated from the First Nation in 1942. McLeod said he told the police that First Nations are abiding by their own laws while governments are breaking their treaty obligations. 'This isn't by chance that we're getting these bills that are almost identical,' McLeod said. 'There's no honour in the Crown going through these processes. And it's just going to not only trigger Ontario Idle No More 2.0, but it's going to trigger a nationwide Idle No More.' Idle No More was a 2012 protest movement against the omnibus Bill C-45, introduced by then-prime minister Stephen Harper's government. Indigenous leaders said 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. The Ontario Provincial Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Anishinabek Nation chief says he briefed OPP on protests against fast-track bills
OTTAWA – A regional chief for Anishinabek Nation says he briefed Ontario Provincial Police yesterday on what to expect when First Nations take to the streets to protest provincial and federal legislation aimed at fast-tracking major projects. Scott McLeod says he was invited by an Indigenous relations coordinator to brief officers at the OPP's Orillia headquarters on why First Nations oppose the legislation and why they see the bills as a violation of treaties with the Crown. McLeod says 'shutting down the economy of Ontario is not off the table' and that if police want to 'avoid another Dudley George,' they need to understand First Nations' position. George was shot and killed during the Ipperwash crisis of 1995, when members of the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation and their supporters occupied a provincial park built on land appropriated from the First Nation in 1942. McLeod says he told the police that First Nations are abiding by their own laws while governments are breaking their treaty obligations. The Ontario Provincial Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
