I’ve spent the past week speaking with Indigenous leaders across Northern Ontario, where tensions are mounting over the province’s controversial Mining Amendment Act. The legislation, which received royal assent last month, has sparked warnings of potential blockades that could disrupt key transportation routes.
“This isn’t just about mining. It’s about our fundamental right to determine what happens on our traditional territories,” Chief Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation told me during our conversation at a recent community gathering in Thunder Bay.
The Mining Amendment Act, designed to streamline permitting processes for critical minerals extraction, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about reconciliation and Indigenous consultation in Ontario’s resource development.
According to provincial officials, the legislation aims to position Ontario as a leader in supplying minerals essential for electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies. Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli has repeatedly emphasized the potential economic benefits, suggesting the sector could create thousands of jobs across Northern Ontario.
But Indigenous communities see it differently.
“We’ve been handed legislation that fundamentally ignores our treaty rights,” said Regional Chief Glen Hare of the Chiefs of Ontario, who I met with at his office overlooking Lake Nipissing. “The province can’t simply declare lands open for mining without meaningful consultation.”
The warnings from First Nations leaders are increasingly specific. Several chiefs have indicated that if the province proceeds with implementing the act without addressing their concerns, they’re prepared to establish blockades on key rail lines and highways connecting southern and northern Ontario.
Such actions could significantly impact not just mining operations but supply chains across multiple industries. The CN rail corridor through Northern Ontario serves as a critical artery for goods moving between Eastern and Western Canada.
Data from the Ontario Mining Association shows the province’s mining sector contributes approximately $7.5 billion annually to Ontario’s GDP. The critical minerals strategy specifically targets 33 minerals deemed essential for future technologies.
I visited the proposed site of a new lithium mining operation near Kenora last Tuesday, where survey markers and preliminary equipment sit idle as the legal and political discussions continue. The quiet forest belies the intensity of the debate happening in community halls, corporate boardrooms, and government offices.
“We’re not opposed to development that respects our rights and benefits our communities,” explained Elder Margaret Quewezance, who walked the site with me. “But this legislation feels like a step backward in our relationship with the province.”
The Mining Act amendments reduce certain regulatory steps previously required before exploration can begin. Provincial officials maintain that consultation requirements remain robust, but Indigenous legal experts disagree.
“The changes effectively diminish the duty to consult that’s been established through numerous Supreme Court decisions,” said Renee Pelletier, managing partner at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, a law firm specializing in Indigenous rights. “That’s why communities are considering direct action.”
My conversations with mining industry representatives revealed mixed reactions. Some executives, speaking on background, expressed frustration with potential delays but acknowledged the need for community support.
“The reality is that no mining project succeeds long-term without social license,” said one mining executive whose company has operations throughout Northern Ontario. “The province may have streamlined the process on paper, but if it leads to blockades and legal challenges, nobody wins.”
As tensions rise, provincial officials have begun reaching out to First Nations leaders for emergency talks. Sources close to these discussions tell me that modifications to implementation protocols are being considered, though the province remains committed to the legislation itself.
For residents of Toronto and southern Ontario, these disputes may seem distant, but their resolution will impact everything from infrastructure projects to the availability of materials needed for the green economy transition.
The coming weeks will prove critical as both sides consider their next moves. As one chief told me before I left Thunder Bay: “We prefer dialogue, but we’re prepared to protect our rights. The choice now rests with the province.”
