Bill 5 Opposition Continues As Rally Gathers in Hamilton
Environmental and Indigenous Rights Concerns Continue to Fuel a Growing Resistance to Ontario's Bill 5
HAMILTON, ON — Opposition to Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, continued on July 9, 2025, at a rally against the bill, which cited environmental and Indigenous rights concerns. The rally, held at Hamilton's City Hall, was attended by dozens of people. Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner, in an on-site interview with The Field & Shutter Press, vowed continued opposition to the bill. Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles was also in attendance.
The Hamilton rally, organized by Hamilton350, is one of several actions that have taken place or are ongoing across the province.
First Nations communities have recently slowed traffic on portions of the Trans-Canada Highway in protest of both the federal Bill C-5 and Ontario's Bill 5, citing violations of their rights and inadequate consultation. Bill C-5, which also aims to speed up energy and mining project approvals, was introduced by the federal government and is being likened to Ontario’s Bill 5 by many, with First Nations also strongly opposing the federal bill.
Additionally, a First Nations-led occupation has been established at Queen's Park in Toronto in opposition to the legislation. Also, on Canada Day, hundreds of protesters gathered just north of the location to demonstrate against Bill 5, according to The Globe and Mail.
The Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, gives the Ford Government the power to create and designate areas ‘Special Economic Zones’ which could then be exempted from various Provincial Laws, such as environmental protections, labour laws, and health and safety, and also included the ability to exempt the areas from existing Municipal Bylaws such as noise bylaws.
Bill 5 passed in the Ontario Legislature on June 4, 2025, in a vote of 71-44. When the bill was introduced in April, Doug Ford said in a press release, “The maze of bureaucracy, red tape and duplicative processes holding back our economy means that a single mining project can take 15 years to be approved,” adding, “In the face of current Ontario-U.S. trade tensions, it can no longer be business as usual. We are cutting red tape to unlock our critical minerals and unleash our economy to create new jobs and opportunities in the north and across the province.”
Schreiner Vows 'People Powered Movement' to Kill Bill 5
Speaking with The Field & Shutter Press at the Hamilton rally, Green Party leader Mike Schreiner outlined a province-wide effort against Bill 5. “We're gonna be hosting events all across the province to organize people from all political party backgrounds, from all across our communities, to build a People Powered movement to Kill Bill five,” Schreiner stated.
This announcement comes after the launch of the Green Party's “Summer Leaders” tour on July 8, 2025, which began with a “high-energy barnstorm” event in Toronto, according to a Press Release from the Green Party.
During the interview, Schreiner shared what he’s heard from the people of Ontario. “People are outraged that Doug Ford is attacking indigenous rights, environmental protections, labour laws and democratic oversight, and they're saying, no way people want economic development. They don't want economic development that tramples on indigenous rights, that doesn't protect the people and places we love in this province.”
James Bay Port May Be Unsuitable
Schreiner specifically addressed concerns surrounding the Ring of Fire mining initiative and the proposed James Bay Deep-sea Port, which he tied to the province's focus under Bill 5.
As reported by CBC, Doug Ford has sought Mark Carney’s support in building a ‘deep-sea port’ on James Bay. At the same time, Sudbury New Democrat MPP Jamie West has attributed the project to mineral extraction in the Ring of Fire, saying, "The idea would be that it's cheaper to transport goods through the seaport than it would be to transport by rail or by road. And so I think that's that opportunity," West said to the CBC.
Doug Ford has already indicated he would like to develop the Ring of Fire quickly.
Referencing a recent memorandum of understanding between Ontario and Alberta regarding a railway through First Nation territory, Schreiner highlighted the lack of consultation. "Well, you know what we've heard from the mayor of Moosonee that the so called James Bay Port, which I don't even know how that's going to happen, because James Bay is too shallow for tankers and big cargo ships. Anyway, he hasn't been consulted. So how is the premier signing an MOU to have a port in James Bay when he hasn't consulted local First Nations?" Schreiner told The Field & Shutter Press.
Schreiner added that the Energy Minister's response to the depth issue was merely that “ ‘Oh, well, we'll have a study that will tell us.’ And I'm going, there's been newer studies that have showed that you can't bring tankers into James Bay. So it just shows you how reckless the Premier is. It shows you what happens when you don't properly consult with local indigenous knowledge about the best and most responsible way to move forward.”
Lawrence Martin, director of lands and resources for the Mushkegowuk Council, representing 7 other First Nations that are part of Northern Ontario, told CBC, "For the government to come and say, 'We want to build a seaport here,' well good luck — you sure don't have enough water."
In 2021, the Canadian Government and the Mushkegowuk Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking the beginning of a process to assess the feasibility of establishing a national marine conservation area in James Bay and southwestern Hudson Bay. With the area being covered by Treaty 9
The Ford Government Has Entered an ‘MOU’ with Alberta Regarding the Ring of Fire
Recently, on July 7, 2025, via a press release, the Ford Government announced that it is entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alberta Government to “support Canadian workers by building new pipelines, rail lines and other energy and trade infrastructure” said the release.
Premier Doug Ford said in the same release, “In the face of President Trump’s tariffs and ongoing economic uncertainty, Canadians need to work together to build the infrastructure that will diversify our trading partners and end our dependence on the United States,” adding, “By building pipelines, rail lines and the energy and trade infrastructure that connects our country, we will build a more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant economy and country. Together, we are building the infrastructure we need to protect Canada, our workers, businesses and communities. Let’s build Canada.”
Green Party Proposing Solutions
Beyond opposition to Bill 5, Schreiner also emphasized the Green Party's commitment to proposing alternative solutions for Ontario's mining sector. He noted that some companies questioned the provincial focus on the Ring of Fire, given that areas like the Sudbury Basin and Timmins already possess infrastructure and have obtained the consent of Indigenous communities.
"What we're saying is, is we're going to fight Bill five at the same time, we're going to come up with solutions of how we create good jobs in Ontario and develop the mining sector that we can be proud of that consults with First Nations and has good environmental stewardship plans in place," he explained.
Schreiner also detailed the escalating forms of opposition from First Nations communities. "We've already started to see some temporary blockades to slow down traffic in northern Ontario, and First Nations have said, this is just a little hint of what's to come if the government doesn't kill Bill 5, and you're going to see more of that. You're going to see it escalating," he warned, referencing the ongoing First Nations occupation at Queen's Park and widespread calls for rallies.
He also expressed hope for a united front, noting that "all three parties [Green, NDP & Liberal] have expressed opposition to Bill five. And so my hope is, is that we can take those expressions of opposition and work together to stand united with the people of this province to Kill Bill 5."
Although primarily framed as a mining bill by the Ford Government, Bill 5 has already been used to exempt York1, the operator of the now controversial Dresden Dump, from Environmental Assessments, with a notice from the Ontario Government on the matter saying:
“[Bill 5] revokes Ontario Regulation 284/24: Designation - Chatham-Kent Waste Disposal Site[Operated by York1], which designated the project as a Part II.3 project requiring a comprehensive environmental assessment; and
[Bill 5] amends the EAA to exempt the project from other Environmental Assessment (EA) requirements”
However, in a statement to CHCH News, the Premier’s Office maintained that, “Our government is upholding high environmental standards, labour laws, while reducing review times on critical projects by 50% – any assertion is otherwise false,” further adding, “As a next step, we are working with First Nation communities over the summer to form the regulations and criteria to create new special economic zones and Indigenous-led economic zones.”
It remains unclear how the bill and its special economic zones could impact other areas in Ontario. However, a united front appears to be continuing to grow against Bill 5.
Follow the Field & Shutter Press
Instagram | Youtube | BlueSky
Greg Noakes | Random Photo Adventure
Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky
Have a tip, story idea, event, or want to appear as a guest column? Contact me or get in touch by emailing randomphotoadventure@substack.com