THUNDER BAY – Ontarians need to prevent foreigners from claiming the province's critical minerals, Energy and Minister Stephen Lecce said in making a pitch for Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act.
He said in a news conference at a local business that Bill 5, introduced last week, will safeguard Ontario’s critical minerals from hostile foreign actors by streamlining the process of turning mineral deposits into mines.
“In today’s changing world, we need to be clear-eyed about the risks from those who want to exploit our resource bounty,” Lecce said.
“That is why it is essential that Ontario is protecting our critical minerals and energy sector from getting into the wrong hands. Our government is taking action to secure our supply chains, from exploration to extraction, to ensure Canadian interests, jobs and sovereignty always prevail.”
However, some have expressed concern that the bill weakens environmental oversight and Indigenous rights.
The government has said the legislation would have no impact on the Crown’s duty to consult First Nations, Kiiwetinoong's New Democrat MPP Sol Mamakwa told Newswatch, but “I know for a fact that the government likes to do the bare minimum on duty to consult.”
The province “cannot pick and choose” when it comes to the free prior and informed consent of First Nations, he said.
Bill 5 is designed to cut red tape and redundancies holding back development in the Ring of Fire, an April 17 government news release said.
If passed, the bill would give Ontario the power to designate “special economic zones” where projects could be exempt from provincial and municipal laws.
Lecce has described the legislation as “taking decisive action” to dramatically cut government review time and “get shovels in the ground” sooner.
Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner characterized the bill as “using Trump’s trade war to justify further weakening the environmental assessment process and Indigenous consultation.”
In a news release from Chiefs of Ontario, Regional Chief Abram Benedict said the bill “could be used to try and undermine (First Nations’) rights and ignore our sovereignty.”
The bill would also make amendments to the province’s Endangered Species Act with measures non-profit organization Environmental Defence described as “the end of most meaningful provincial protections” for endangered and threatened species.
Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas, who was the Conservative candidate in Thunder Bay-Superior North in the Feb. 27 provincial election, told Newswatch he has faith that Ontario’s Conservative government is doing the right thing with Bill 5.
The province “is identifying that we want to make sure that red tape is reduced, things move forward in a timely manner and that … all the consultations take place, working with First Nations and all the communities involved at the same time,” Dumas said.
Kevin Holland, Thunder Bay-Atikokan’s Conservative MPP and an associate minister in the provincial cabinet, said in a government news release Friday that “Ontario is taking important actions to protect our mining and energy assets during this volatile time.
“This is especially important for northern Ontario, as critical mineral and mining resources are an integral part of our economy.
“This legislation will ensure they remain a commodity that supports our workforce and livelihood.”
