Northern MPP to head up Indigenous reconciliation after cabinet shuffle – SooToday.com
Indigenous reconciliation added to Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford’s title; George Pirie remains mines minister, Vic Fedeli continues in economic development
Indigenous reconciliation has been added to Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford’s title in Premier Doug Ford’s June 6 cabinet shuffle.
Ford decided to switch up and expand the roster at the close of the spring session, expanding his cabinet to 36 members.
Rickford remains northern development minister but gets a longer title as minister of Indigenous affairs and First Nations economic reconciliation.
The stalled Ring of Fire development is very much on the government’s radar to feed the battery and electric vehicle plants in southern Ontario, and there remains much Indigenous grassroots opposition to digital claim-staking in the booming exploration business in northwestern Ontario.
Rickford will have to smooth out and build better relationships with those First Nations communities either on the fence or opposed to mining and mine-related development activity without their individual community consent and participation.
