Mining companies empowered by Ontario’s Bill 5 could put First Nations’ land and history at risk, advocates say – Cottage Life
May 9, 2025
First Nations groups are asking the Ontario government to reconsider a proposed piece of legislation aimed at fast tracking mining and resource development projects.
On April 17, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Bill 5, also known as Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. Ford claims the bill is an attempt to bolster the Ontario economy in the face of U.S. tariffs.
“The maze of bureaucracy, red tape, and duplicative processes holding back our economy means that a single mining project can take 15 years to be approved,” Ford said in a statement. “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.”
