Ontario Premier Doug Ford is seeking a collaborative relationship with First Nations regarding mine development, emphasizing their need for autonomy rather than continual financial dependence on the government. This comes amid tensions over Bill 5, which allows for expedited infrastructure project approvals without First Nations consultations. Meeting with chiefs from the Anishinabek Nation, Ford asserted the importance of respecting treaty rights while promoting a $3 billion Indigenous financing program. His administration aims to empower First Nations to take part in economic development, particularly in resource-rich regions like the Ring of Fire.
Ford emphasized that First Nations should not keep approaching the government for financial help, indicating a desire for autonomy in economic development.
He insisted that First Nation treaty rights would be respected and he would fulfill the duty to consult through a series of meetings this summer.
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