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.
The Ford government is dangling a $3-billion carrot to First Nations with its Indigenous Opportunities Finance Program to gain their support for the controversial Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, which became law this month.
The legislation provides for the creation of special economic zones, as designated by cabinet, to fast-track the permitting and construction of major developments, like new mines, by striking down provincial regulations and municipal bylaws, if deemed necessary.
That’s drawn the ire of many First Nation organizations who oppose this approach, fearing it will strip them of their treaty rights and cause harm to the environment.
The Ford government is offering remote and diesel-power dependent First Nations a transactional olive branch to become development partners in places in minerally-endowed Ring of Fire in the James Bay region.
“We’re giving them $3 billion to be equity partners to make their communities more prosperous and wealthier and have services they’ve never had before,” Ford said, along with $80 million in training and scholarship money.
“This is like handing an opportunity on a silver platter to First Nations that, by the way, I have treated like gold.”
Ford said chiefs on the national, regional and local level have repeatedly praised him for his availability, prompting him to joke that he can fill Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford position’s “because I get calls every single day.”
Rickford has recently come under fire from some influential chiefs who are asking for his resignation over the passage of Bill 5.
Ford said when he first entered office, he advised Rickford to “treat (First Nations) well, give them whatever they need, whatever they want, for them prosper.
“But there’s gonna be a point where you just can’t keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government. You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves
“And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants and you’re saying, no, no, I don’t wanna touch that, by the way, give me money; not going to happen, it’s simple," said Ford.
“We’ll help’em develop the mines and become very prosperous in their communities, something they’ve never had, ever, in their entire lives. And I’m bending over backwards to make sure we take care of them.
“But it’s a two-way street here.”
When a reporter challenged Ford about the veracity of his claims about First Nations support for Bill 5, Ford responded that many chiefs he’s spoken with want a better future for their communities and want to get moving on resource projects.
“But I guarantee you they’ll be endless chiefs saying, Wow, this is an opportunity,” said Ford. “Mark my words. They’re going to have endless opportunities
“Those that don’t want it, fine; those that do, we’re going to support.”
Ford accused his NDP opponent in the legislature, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, who’s called for Bill 5 to be withdrawn, as a politician who “likes stirring it up.”
Ford said Rickford and Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce will be out visiting Indigenous communities this summer offering them the choice between prosperity through resource development or economic stagnation.
Mamakwa replied in a news release that Ford would be better served by repealing Bill 5, conducting “actual consultations, and listening to treaty rights holders instead of hurling insults at First Nations."
He called Ford’s remarks “deeply offensive and racist” that underscore the premier’s “fundamental lack of understanding of Ontario’s treaty relationship with First Nations.”
Mamakwa accused Ford of creating divisions rather than building consensus.
“Bill 5 was an assault on treaty rights, the whole province made their voice heard, the Premier needs to take a step back and listen.
“This is not how you build consent and true partnership, and it is certainly not how you build a stronger Ontario.”
