Hundreds of First Nations members gathered outside Queen’s Park on Monday to protest a contentious mining bill that they say disregards their rights and ignores their concerns.
Overview of Bill 5
The proposed legislation, known as Bill 5, would grant the government authority to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects deemed economically important. This has sparked widespread concern among First Nations groups who argue that it undermines their ability to protect the land and water from mining activities.
Voices of Concern
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse addressed the protesters, stating, "Our rights are not for sale." Her words reflect the deep-seated anxiety among First Nations communities about the potential consequences of this legislation.
The Ontario government remains committed to passing Bill 5. Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford mentioned after meeting with chiefs, "We’re looking forward to passing the bill later this week." Despite calls from Indigenous groups for changes or a complete overhaul of the bill, Rickford confirmed that there are no plans for amendments beyond those already made last week under pressure from these groups.
Upcoming Discussions
Rickford announced plans for meetings between himself and Energy Minister Stephen Lecce with chiefs of Ontario in the coming weeks. These discussions will be followed by visits throughout the summer months.
Related Legislation
The province is moving quickly through a series of bills before Parliament breaks up later this week. In addition to Bill 5, three other pieces related directly or indirectly to mining have been introduced:
- The Mining Amendment Act (Protecting Mineral Rights): Aims to make it easier for companies operating mines near existing ones.
- The Environmental Assessment Act amendment.
- The Aggregate Resources Act amendment.
Rickford believes these bills will help create jobs in northern Ontario while also addressing environmental concerns raised by Indigenous leaders during consultations last year. However, many Indigenous leaders remain skeptical about whether these measures will be sufficient.
Community Response
"We need more than just promises," said Grand Council Treaty #3 Chief Don Kelly during an interview at his office in Fort Frances. He described the situation as "a slap in our face" as he prepared to join community members on buses bound for Toronto to protest outside Queen’s Park against Bill 5.
Kelly was one of several dozen chiefs who met with Premier Doug Ford earlier this year after he announced plans to introduce legislation allowing him greater control over resource development projects across northern Ontario. He expressed disappointment that no changes have been made despite repeated requests from him and other chiefs.
"We’ve asked repeatedly since we met back in January," Kelly stated, emphasizing the lack of progress on multiple changes requested by Grand Council Treaty #3 Chiefs. These include eliminating provisions allowing suspension without consent when municipalities refuse consent or delay approval due to public consultation requirements.
Additionally, Grand Council Chiefs have called upon Premier Ford’s government to withdraw all four pieces of legislation related to mining currently being debated at Queen’s Park, stating that "they do not address our concerns," according to a letter sent Friday afternoon signed by all nine regional grand councils representing Anishinaabe people living across northwestern Ontario.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
