Ontario First Nations leaders warn of 'conflict on the ground' if controversial Bill 5 passes

Ethan Lang · CBC News

· Posted: May 26, 2025 5:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Ontario First Nations leaders accidental they privation the state to termination a arguable measure they accidental infringes connected pact rights, and are informing of "conflict connected the ground" if it passes.

Bill 5, oregon the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, includes large changes to the province's endangered taxon and biology extortion laws. 

The measure would make "special economical zones" that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for definite projects. Premier Doug Ford has said the Ring of Fire mineral deposit successful bluish Ontario and his projected passageway nether Highway 401 would beryllium fixed that peculiar presumption nether the projected law.

Since it was tabled past month, the measure has drawn disapproval from First Nations, environmentalists and ineligible advocates, who person said the projected instrumentality would gut biology protections for wildlife and infringe connected pact rights.

WATCH | Environmental groups alarmed astir Bill 5's imaginable impacts: 

Alvin Fiddler, expansive main of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, said if the measure is passed, First Nations communities volition instrumentality a stand.

"There volition beryllium struggle connected the ground, and those that reason it volition astir apt extremity up successful jail," said Fiddler, who represents 49 First Nations successful northbound Ontario. "That is wherever we're heading."

Chief says state has work to consult

Shelly Moore-Frappier was 1 of galore chiefs who were astatine Queen's Park Monday to reason the bill, which is presently being considered by the province's lasting committee. 

At a quality conference, she said the measure doesn't align with the province's obligations nether Treaty 9, including the work to consult.

"If First Nations are not progressive successful making decisions, not respected oregon taken seriously, it's harmless to presume galore volition object, and developments volition stall and get tied up successful court," said Moore-Frappier, who is main of Temagami First Nation. 

"We're not against development," she said. "But that doesn't mean we'll basal by portion our lands and rights are steamrolled by a short-sighted tendency for nett and prestige."

Linda Debassige, expansive assembly main of Anshinabek Nation successful Ontario, said the state is "trying to legislate america retired of the conversation."

"I caution the government," she said, "should this measure proceed successful its existent form, we volition beryllium idle nary more."

Debassige was suggesting a repetition of the Idle No More question that began successful 2012 and led to countrywide protests, including roadworthy and obstruction blockades.

Minister says state consenting to see changes

The Ford authorities has said the measure is intended to velocity up approvals arsenic an urgent effect to the economical threats posed by U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs.

The Progressive Conservatives person besides said the measure doesn't instrumentality distant pact rights, but Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce said Monday that the state is consenting to see changes.

"To enactment successful bully religion with First Nations leaders to fortify the bill, to get it right, we're unfastened to making improvements to the bill," helium said. "We already person made some, but I deliberation there's much enactment to do."

Ontario's Regional Chief for the Chiefs of Ontario, however, told reporters Monday that First Nations leaders aren't asking for amendments. They privation the state to commencement implicit and impact First Nations successful drafting a caller bill.

"Nobody has said, 'Change this and it's okay,'" said Chief Abram Benedict, who advocates for each 133 First Nations successful the province. "We're not against jobs. We're not against creating a stronger economy, but it has to beryllium done successful a respectful way."

Benedict met with Ford and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford astatine the premier's location connected Thursday pursuing a archetypal contentious time of committee hearings astir Bill 5.

Benedict said helium told Ford that the legislation, arsenic it is presently written, is unacceptable and that consultation indispensable hap with each First Nation, not umbrella organizations similar his.

The NDP enactment distant a question Monday seeking to clasp an further time of committee hearings connected the measure successful Thunder Bay, a repetition of a question enactment guardant by MPP Sol Mamakwa last week. The Progressive Conservatives voted against it.

Ford to conscionable with Indigenous leaders astir bill

Rickford said Monday that Ford has agreed to beryllium down with Indigenous leaders to sermon the bill. But ministers would not reply whether the authorities is prepared to hold the bill's transition to prosecute further consultation.

Despite his minister's pledge to perceive to outraged First Nations, Ford said determination was tons of enactment for the bill.

"There's absorption with the extremist environmentalists, not everyone else," helium said.

"People privation jobs, they privation to make wealthiness and accidental and prosperity."

The measure is acceptable for line-by-line information arsenic it moves person to becoming law.