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Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas

Ford and Carney want to speed up major project approvals — with one key difference – by Jessica Smith Cross (The Trillium – June 17, 2025)

https://www.thetrillium.ca/

Ontario’s law is far broader than the feds’ version and could be unconstitutional: experts

Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are responding to the economic threat posed by Donald Trump with new laws that grant their cabinet ministers the power to exempt projects from the normal rule of law, allowing them to be built faster.

But Ontario’s law, legal experts say, is far broader and lacks the guardrails built into its federal counterpart, and, because of that, could be unconstitutional. Paul Daly, an expert in administrative law and professor at the University of Ottawa, made that case in a recent article, arguing that, while the federal bill could be improved, it is “constitutionally permissible” and could, in his view, be beneficial if used well.

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Ontario First Nations ‘keep coming hat in hand’ despite being treated ‘like gold,’ Doug Ford says – by Liam Casey (Canadian Press/National Post – June 18, 2025)

https://nationalpost.com/

‘There’s going to be a point that you can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government, you’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves’

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is willing to give First Nations what they want for their support in developing mines, but they cannot “keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government” for more money. Ford is set to meet Thursday with several dozen chiefs who are part of Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations in the province.

First Nations are livid with the province over the passage of Bill 5, which gives cabinet the power to suspend municipal and provincial laws for chosen projects through the creation of so-called special economic zones.

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Doug Ford: First Nations can’t come ‘hat in hand’ to government and not support mining – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – June 18, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Premier throws down the gauntlet to convince Indigenous communities to be development partners or choose economic stagnation

Premier Doug Ford said First Nations can’t keep coming “hat in hand” to government for assistance when there’s untapped precious and critical minerals on their traditional lands.Ford made the comment in St. Catharines, June 18, to announce housing funding from the Building Faster Fund for three Niagara Region communities.

His remarks should set the stage for an interesting “conversation” tomorrow at Queen’s Park with 40 undisclosed Ontario chiefs to secure their support to expedite speedier approvals for critical minerals mine developments in the province.“There’s an opportunity of a lifetime for them,” said Ford.

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Opinion: We need a grand bargain to unlock Canadian prosperity – by Ken Coates (Business In Vancouver – June 16, 2025)

https://www.biv.com/

A new era of resource development must start with full Indigenous engagement and a bold federal commitment to shared prosperity

There aren’t many absolute truths in Canadian public life, but there are some. Here’s a few on that short list: First Nations people require — and deserve — far greater economic opportunities, Canada’s economic prosperity rests on the cautious but timely development of natural resources, and the current rate of government spending cannot be maintained.

As Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government engages provincial and territorial counterparts seeking to fast-track major development projects, First Nations, Métis and Inuit warn that unchecked development, undertaken without Indigenous involvement and approval, must be stopped in its tracks.

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Yukon Supreme Court approves sale of Minto mine to Selkirk First Nation – by Caitrin Pilkington (CBC News North – June 16, 2025)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/

Deal puts First Nation ‘in the driver’s seat’ over what happens on its traditional territory

On Friday, the Yukon Supreme Court approved the second half of the Minto mine sale to Selkirk First Nation (SFN), marking a major milestone in the First Nation’s control of activities on its own land. Minto mine, a gold and copper mine about 240 kilometres northwest of Whitehorse on SFN land, was abandoned by previous owners Minto Metals Corp. in May 2023 and PricewaterhouseCoopers has acted as receiver. .

In September, the First Nation acquired the tangible assets at the site, such as buildings and equipment, for $5.3 million. As of this week, it now has approval to buy mineral claims and leases that grant the right to extract minerals, for $740,000. The sale is expected to close in the coming days.

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‘Free, prior, and informed consent’ never amounted to a First Nations veto – by Chris Sankey (Financial Post – June 14, 2025)

https://nationalpost.com/

First Nations have just as much interest in seeing major development projects that benefit our communities go ahead as industry and government

Last week, Justice Minister Sean Fraser apologized for saying that the duty to consult First Nations on infrastructure projects “stops short of a complete veto.” The apology came in response to a letter from Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, who expressed concern about plans to fast-track infrastructure projects, citing the principal of “free, prior, and informed consent” enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

For decades in this country, Indigenous rights have been trampled upon and trust has been lost. Years of negligence has caused our people not to trust the process and to second guess commitments made by government and industry.

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Canada’s rush for new resource projects can’t happen without First Nations’ support: grand chief – by Ozten Shebahkeget (CBC News Manitoba – June 16, 2025)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/

‘Nothing will happen unless the First Nations … say it will’: Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak grand chief

Some First Nations leaders and citizens in Manitoba say they’re concerned by the province’s recent push to create new energy, trade and resource extraction projects in the north. Shortly after the Liberals won a minority government in last April’s federal election, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney to pitch five major resource projects in the province that could be fast-tracked.

At the top of Kinew’s list was a project he called the “One Canada Trade Corridor,” which would create a potential hub for critical minerals and fossil fuel exports through northern Manitoba’s Port of Churchill to diversify Canada’s trade relationships.

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How Can Canada Deliver On Its Renewed Natural Resources Ambition – TV Ontario’s The Agenda host Steve Paikin interviews Heather Exner-Pirot, Elena Cherney and Stan Sudol (June 12, 2025) https://www.tvo.org/theagenda

https://www.tvo.org/theagenda

The world may be changing rapidly, but one thing is not – its demand for natural resources, many of which Canada has supplied for generations. Oil, natural gas, metals and timber. And our new Liberal government seems to be embracing this country’s past as a provider of raw materials, as well as increasing numbers of Canadians.

But how can the government boost development while also balancing important modern considerations such as First Nations consultation and climate change?

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The Ring of Fire: an abundance of metals, few juniors – by Richard Mill (Ahead of the Herd.com – June 12, 2025)

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Northern Ontario Business calls the Ring of Fire “the garden of agony” for mining companies ever since the discovery of nickel and chromite in the James Bay region in 2007-08:

Over the decades, the vast and open-ended mineral potential of the remote Ring of Fire has received its share of passionate lip service from Ottawa and Queen’s Park. But these two orders of government have also contributed to the lack of Far North development through apathy and inaction, arduous assessment processes, and diverging policies over how — or even if — resource extraction should take place in the James Bay lowlands.

The sclerotic pace of development though could be quickening, thanks to a change of federal government, new initiatives from the Doug Ford-led provincial government, and progress on roadbuilding that is being headed up by local First Nations. A promise of new mining infrastructure has brought a fresh wave of optimism from resource companies advancing deposits in the region, who see a new “area play” developing.

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First Nation leaders, advocates rally in Thunder Bay, Ont., to demand Bill 5’s repeal – by Sarah Law (CBC News Thunder Bay – June 13, 2025)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/

About 200 people flocked to MPP Kevin Holland’s office to voice concerns

Etched on a poster board the size of her body, Mary McPherson held up a pencil-drawn portrait of Ontario Premier Doug Ford.With dollar signs over his eyes, Ford is standing in front of a burned-down forest, holding a torn copy of the James Bay Treaty.

The artwork, McPherson said, is in response to Bill 5, controversial legislation which aims to fast-track development in the name of unleashing the province’s economic potential.”I’m really angry and scared for the future. I feel like already, this territory has experienced a lot of environmental harm as a result of resource extraction,” said McPherson, a member of Couchiching First Nation.

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Ford fires back at First Nation leader over opposition to Bill 5 – by Matt Prokopchuk (SN News Watch – June 13, 2025)

https://www.snnewswatch.com/

The Ontario premier’s comments came after Aroland chief Sonny Gagnon spoke out against the new law.

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford hit back at one of the First Nations leaders he has signed development agreements with over Indigenous opposition to Bill 5. Ford has repeatedly named Aroland Chief Sonny Gagnon and his community as among those who are on-side with further development in the province’s north, including the Ring of Fire.

The First Nation, located about 80 kilometres north of Greenstone, signed a “shared prosperity agreement” with the province for economic growth and infrastructure back in January that, among other things, would enable the eventual construction of roads into the Ring of Fire area.

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Ring of Fire road reaches milestone – by Steve Cornwell and Jessica Smith Cross (The Trillium – June 12, 2025)

https://www.thetrillium.ca/

It comes at a time when tensions over the Ring of Fire have heightened over opposition to the province’s ‘special economic zones’ legislation

Webequie First Nation has released an environmental report on a road between its community and mineral deposits in the Ring of Fire, a key step toward opening the region to mining development.

The draft environmental assessment (EA) and impact statement (IS) is for one of three different stretches of a road link to planned mining operations in the region. Marten Falls has released the draft EA/IS report for the stretch of road that connects its community, and the two First Nations are jointly leading the process for the Northern Road Link that connects the other two stretches, and is running behind the other two regulatory processes.

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Indigenous leaders warn of ‘civil unrest’ ahead of key meeting on major project bill – by Palak Mangat (Parliament Today – June 11, 2025)

https://www.parliamenttoday.ca/

The feds’ Bill C-5 seeks to speed up project approvals to two years

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak slammed the Liberal government for wanting to ram through legislation aimed at fast-tracking the development of large projects, arguing Prime Minister Mark Carney is not off to a great “start” on reconciliation.

Nepinak was flanked by AFN B.C. regional chief Terry Teegee and B.C. First Nations Justice Council chair Kory Wilson to release the organization’s justice strategy on Wednesday. But much of her criticism was directed at Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s Bill C-5.

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Province’s key Ring of Fire road ally not sold on mining in the Far North – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – June 9, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Aroland Chief Sonny Gagnon pushes back on Ford, sides with Ontario First Nations against Bill 5

A key Indigenous ally in the Ford government’s push to build a permanent road to the Ring of Fire is calling out the premier for making misleading statements to the media.

Aroland First Nation issued a June 9 news release that the Premier Doug Ford is putting out “misleading and incorrect statements” to a Toronto media outlet that it’s consenting to mining activity in Ontario’s Far North now that the controversial, pro-mining Bill 5 is now law.

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Breaking down what’s in Ontario’s Bill 5, and why it’s controversial – by Marc Benoit (Cornwall Standard Freeholder – June 10, 2025)

https://www.standard-freeholder.com/

Ontario’s Bill 5 has been drawing a lot of attention and making headlines this spring. What’s in the bill that’s so concerning?

A new provincial law aimed at “unleashing” Ontario’s economy will also directly impact local governance, labour laws and environmental protections, which some say will open a “Pandora’s box of bad consequences.”

The bill, was granted royal assent on June 5 and is officially titled the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. Bill 5 presents a comprehensive set of changes to various aspects of Ontario law, with major implications for the province. The new law amends several key pieces of legislation with the goal of fast-tracking economic development, specifically mining in key regions of the province, like the Ring of Fire located roughly 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.

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