Province vows changes to Bill 5 as First Nations warn of backlash – Sudbury News

May 27, 2025

Indigenous leaders are warning that the bill, which is designed to sidestep red tape and spur development, particularly in the Ring of Fire, could reignite ‘Idle No More’ as assessments and consultation take a back seat to economic interests under proposed legislation

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared on The Trillium, a Village Media website devoted exclusively to covering provincial politics at Queen’s Park.

The Ford government is working on amendments to a bill that Indigenous leaders have warned will reignite the “Idle No More” movement in Ontario if it is passed.

Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, would give cabinet the power to designate an area a “special economic zone,” and then exempt selected proponents and projects from requirements under any provincial law or regulation, including bylaws of municipalities and local boards, that would otherwise apply in that zone.