Latest news with #SolMamakwa
Japan Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Indigenous people in Canada challenge fast-track mine and energy projects
Canadian Indigenous groups say new laws passed to fast-track energy and mining projects undermine their constitutional rights and violate the government's obligations to Indigenous people. The tensions between the government and Indigenous communities reflect longstanding concerns over consultation and the environmental impact of mining projects in Canada. Canada's political leaders say the challenge of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods means the country should fast-track economic development in order to cope with potential economic shocks. But a group of Canada's First Nations this week launched a constitutional challenge to laws passed in June, one in the province of Ontario and one at the federal level. A notice filed in Ontario Superior Court said the laws "represent a clear and present danger to the Applicant First Nations' self-determination rights". Canada's parliament last month passed a law to accelerate approval for projects deemed to be in the national interest, including mines and oil pipelines, and also eliminate some trade barriers between provinces. A similar measure in Ontario gives the province's cabinet broader powers, and the province of British Columbia last month also passed an act to fast-track infrastructure projects. Sol Mamakwa, the only Indigenous member of Ontario's provincial parliament, was ejected from the Toronto assembly after accusing the province's premier of telling "untruths to First Nations" about the legislation, known as 'Bill 5'. After Indigenous protests in Toronto, Ontario Premier Doug Ford added a last-minute clause to the law to ensure consultation with First Nation groups before development and mining projects begin. But the details of the plan and how First Nations will be consulted and are not yet clear. "At the 11th hour, after the law has already been passed, to ask us whether or not we think that this law should be in place, is completely inappropriate and unethical," said Dean Sayers, former chief of the Batchewana First Nation. Demonstrators take part in a protest in front of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario against the federal government's Bill C-5, on Canada Day, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on July 1. | REUTERS Ontario's new law allows the government to declare "special economic zones" that make some projects exempt from other provincial laws. This would make it easier for infrastructure and mining companies to bypass provincial laws and environmental restrictions in the state and speed up development projects in a country that is the world's fourth biggest oil exporter and a mining powerhouse. "The power to name a piece of Ontario a special economic zone will turn it into a Wild West without rules and regulations," said Gord Miller, former environmental commissioner of Ontario and current chair of Earthroots, a Toronto-based conservation organization. "Although the designated zones right now are sparsely populated, what's to stop them from using this bill to impact more densely populated areas in the south of Ontario?" he asked. Canadian law states the government has a duty to consult First Nations on projects that could impact their rights and the environment. But Sayers is skeptical about the government's promise of consultation. Indigenous groups argue fast-tracking project approval sidesteps that obligation and denies them a real say. "Consultation does not cut the mustard. Consultation is their version of asking us what we think, and coming in and doing it anyways, regardless of what we say," Sayers said. "We reserve the right to say yes or no to developments. You don't get the right to say yes or no to developments in our backyards," he said. Ford has said U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods meant it "can no longer be business as usual". "We are cutting red tape to unlock our critical minerals and unleash our economy to create new jobs and opportunities in the north and across the province," Ford said in a statement. But Indigenous leaders and environmentalists say U.S. tariffs are an excuse. Trump said last week the United States would impose a 35% tariff on imports from Canada next month. "Relating Bill 5 to Trump's tariffs is nonsense. American companies pay the tariffs to the American Government, we Canadians don't pay them," said Miller. Chief Taynar Simpson of Alderville First Nation said governments "no matter what stripes or colors have always wanted to bypass and undermine environmental protection laws". "Citing Trump as the reason for the bill is self-serving, and a cover up for the real reasons and causes," Simpson said. Some Indigenous leaders have said they will push back with blockades, strikes and protests reminiscent of the Idle no More Movement that saw national demonstrations in 2012 against a federal bill aimed at making it easier for corporations to extract resources on Indigenous lands. More recently, in 2020 Indigenous protesters shut down key railways and roads across Canada for weeks to show solidarity with an Indigenous group in British Columbia that was trying to stop a gas pipeline being built across its land. This time around, Indigenous and environmental groups have threatened protests, alongside their legal action. Sayer said Indigenous peoples were "looking at as many options as necessary to compel the government to back down." "We will no longer be thrown in jail like in the past. We can get educated now. We can hire lawyers now," Sayer said. "We hope that Canadians will also be on the right side of history, because it's their life and environment that will go through degradation, and they will end up having a lower quality of life. It's not fair to the future generation."
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Indigenous groups challenge fast-track mine and energy projects
Prime Minister Mark Carney waits to speak during a tour of a steel manufacturing facility, in Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday, July 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Canadian Indigenous groups say new laws passed to fast-track energy and mining projects undermine their constitutional rights and violate the government's obligations to Indigenous people. The tensions between the government and Indigenous communities reflect longstanding concerns over consultation and the environmental impact of mining projects in Canada. Canada's political leaders say the challenge of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods means the country should fast-track economic development in order to cope with potential economic shocks. But a group of Canada's First Nations this week launched a constitutional challenge to laws passed in June, one in the province of Ontario and one at the federal level. A notice filed in Ontario Superior Court said the laws 'represent a clear and present danger to the Applicant First Nations' self-determination rights.' Canada's parliament last month passed a law to accelerate approval for projects deemed to be in the national interest, including mines and oil pipelines, and also eliminate some trade barriers between provinces. A similar measure in Ontario gives the province's cabinet broader powers, and the province of British Columbia last month also passed an act to fast-track infrastructure projects. Sol Mamakwa, the only Indigenous member of Ontario's provincial parliament, was ejected from the Toronto assembly after accusing the province's premier of telling 'untruths to First Nations' about the legislation, known as 'Bill 5'. After Indigenous protests in Toronto, Ontario Premier Doug Ford added a last-minute clause to the law to ensure consultation with First Nation groups before development and mining projects begin. But the details of the plan and how First Nations will be consulted and are not yet clear. 'At the 11th hour, after the law has already been passed, to ask us whether or not we think that this law should be in place, is completely inappropriate and unethical,' Dean Sayers, former chief of the Batchewana First Nation told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Ontario's new law allows the government to declare 'special economic zones' that make some projects exempt from other provincial laws. This would make it easier for infrastructure and mining companies to bypass provincial laws and environmental restrictions in the state and speed up development projects in a country that is the world's fourth biggest oil exporter and a mining powerhouse. 'The power to name a piece of Ontario a special economic zone will turn it into a wild west without rules and regulations,' said Gord Miller, former environmental commissioner of Ontario and current chair of Earthroots, a Toronto-based conservation organization. 'Although the designated zones right now are sparsely populated, what's to stop them from using this bill to impact more densely populated areas in the south of Ontario?' he asked. Canadian law states the government has a duty to consult First Nations on projects that could impact their rights and the environment. But Sayers is skeptical about the government's promise of consultation. Indigenous groups argue fast-tracking project approval sidesteps that obligation and denies them a real say. 'Consultation does not cut the mustard. Consultation is their version of asking us what we think, and coming in and doing it anyways, regardless of what we say,' Sayers said. 'We reserve the right to say yes or no to developments. You don't get the right to say yes or no to developments in our backyards,' he said. Trump factor Ford has said U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods meant it 'can no longer be business as usual.' 'We are cutting red tape to unlock our critical minerals and unleash our economy to create new jobs and opportunities in the north and across the province,' Ford said in a statement. But Indigenous leaders and environmentalists say U.S. tariffs are an excuse. Trump said last week the United States would impose a 35% tariff on imports from Canada next month. 'Relating Bill 5 to Trump's tariffs is nonsense. American companies pay the tariffs to the American Government, we Canadians don't pay them,' said Miller. Chief Taynar Simpson of Alderville First Nation said governments 'no matter what stripes or colors have always wanted to bypass and undermine environmental protection laws.' 'Citing Trump as the reason for the bill is self-serving, and a cover up for the real reasons and causes,' Simpson said. Rising tensions Some Indigenous leaders have said they will push back with blockades, strikes and protests reminiscent of the Idle no More Movement that saw national demonstrations in 2012 against a federal bill aimed at making it easier for corporations to extract resources on Indigenous lands. More recently, in 2020 Indigenous protesters shut down key railways and roads across Canada for weeks to show solidarity with an Indigenous group in British Columbia that was trying to stop a gas pipeline being built across its land. This time around, Indigenous and environmental groups have threatened protests, alongside their legal action. Sayer said Indigenous Peoples were 'looking at as many options as necessary to compel the government to back down.' 'We will no longer be thrown in jail like in the past. We can get educated now. We can hire lawyers now,' Sayer said. 'We hope that Canadians will also be on the right side of history, because it's their life and environment that will go through degradation, and they will end up having a lower quality of life. It's not fair to the future generation.' (Reporting by Michael Koy. Editing by Anastasia Moloney and Jon Hemming.)
Toronto Star
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Pearl Mamakwa, wife of Ontario NDP deputy leader Sol Mamakwa, dies
Pearl Mamakwa, the wife of Ontario NDP deputy leader Sol Mamakwa, passed away 'suddenly,' according to NDP leader Marit Stiles. The speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Donna Skelly, extended heartfelt sympathies for the Kiiwetinoong MPP through an Instagram post Sunday evening.
CTV News
15-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Wildfire near two Ontario First Nations ‘like a sleeping giant' for now, MPP says
Smoke from wildfires is shown at Sandy Lake First Nation, Ont., in this Saturday, June 7, 2025, handout photo. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout | Photo Credit: Destiny Rae) A provincial legislator says a massive wildfire that has forced the evacuation of two northern Ontario First Nations is like a 'sleeping giant' at the moment. Sol Mamakwa, the New Democrat representative for Kiiwetinoong, visited Sandy Lake First Nation on Thursday. Much of the community of 2,000 people has been forced to leave for different parts of Ontario because of the fire known as Red Lake 12. Ontario officials say the fire is more than 160,000 hectares in size and not under control. The same fire earlier forced the evacuation of Deer Lake First Nation, though fire rangers have now successfully created a fire break around the perimeter of the community. Mamakwa says about 200 people remain in Sandy Lake First Nation, along with the fire rangers. 'It's pretty much like a sleeping giant, the officials told me,' Mamakwa said. Fire rangers and community members are busy working around the clock to protect buildings, he said. They are setting up sprinkler systems around many buildings, including the community centre, as well as around large fuel tanks. 'This fire is just massive,' Mamakwa said after flying over it when he arrived Thursday around noon. There wasn't much smoke near the community when he landed, but by the time he left around 6 p.m., smoke began billowing again. Mamakwa has been asking several levels of government for years to invest in bigger and better runways in remote First Nations. The military flew in with massive CC-130 Hercules planes to help with the evacuation at Sandy Lake, but the aircraft 'could not take the full capacity because the airstrip is too small,' he said. Despite that, the 'organized chaos' of getting nearly 2,000 people out of the community was successful, he said. Wildfires have been raging across northern parts of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Webequie First Nation east of Sandy Lake has also been evacuated due to a different fire that is about 11,000 hectares in size and is not under control. More than 10,000 people in Saskatchewan and 21,000 in Manitoba have been forced out of their communities because of the fires. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
Globe and Mail
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Massive wildfire near two Ontario First Nations is ‘like a sleeping giant,' MPP says
A provincial legislator says a massive wildfire that has forced the evacuation of two northern Ontario First Nations is like a 'sleeping giant' at the moment. Sol Mamakwa, the New Democrat representative for Kiiwetinoong, visited Sandy Lake First Nation on Thursday. Much of the community of 2,000 people has been forced to leave for different parts of Ontario because of the fire known as Red Lake 12. Ontario officials say the fire is more than 160,000 hectares in size and not under control. Smoke map: Squamish wildfire harms air quality in Whistler as warnings in place in B.C, Alta., Y.T. Wildfire evacuees from remote north faced with hard decisions about their pets The same fire earlier forced the evacuation of Deer Lake First Nation, though fire rangers have now successfully created a fire break around the perimeter of the community. Mamakwa says about 200 people remain in Sandy Lake First Nation, along with the fire rangers. 'It's pretty much like a sleeping giant, the officials told me,' Mamakwa said. Fire rangers and community members are busy working around the clock to protect buildings, he said. They are setting up sprinkler systems around many buildings, including the community centre, as well as around large fuel tanks. 'This fire is just massive,' Mamakwa said after flying over it when he arrived Thursday around noon. There wasn't much smoke near the community when he landed, but by the time he left around 6 p.m., smoke began billowing again. Mamakwa has been asking several levels of government for years to invest in bigger and better runways in remote First Nations. The military flew in with massive CC-130 Hercules planes to help with the evacuation at Sandy Lake, but the aircraft 'could not take the full capacity because the airstrip is too small,' he said. Despite that, the 'organized chaos' of getting nearly 2,000 people out of the community was successful, he said. Wildfires have been raging across northern parts of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Webequie First Nation east of Sandy Lake has also been evacuated due to a different fire that is about 11,000 hectares in size and is not under control. More than 10,000 people in Saskatchewan and 21,000 in Manitoba have been forced out of their communities because of the fires.
