Ontario Premier Doug Ford has introduced Bill 5 to break the gridlock that has stalled major infrastructure projects—chief among them the Ring of Fire mining district in the Hudson Bay Lowlands. By creating “special economic zones” exempt from many municipal and provincial regulations, the legislation grants cabinet sweeping authority to determine which rules apply and expedite development timelines.
Ford’s “Get It Done” mantra underpins the push to tap the Ring of Fire’s vast deposits of nickel, chromite, platinum, palladium and copper. The 5,000 km² area spans federal and provincial Crown land as well as Indigenous reserves.
“It’s about creating an opportunity for First Nations communities who for too long have lived in the kind of socio-economic conditions that are completely unacceptable,” Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford said, framing the initiative as a pathway to economic inclusion.
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Yet the proposal has ignited fierce opposition. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation warns of “conflict on the ground” and potential arrests, while the Chiefs of Ontario insist consultation must precede any zone designation.
NPD MPP Sol Mamakwa, whose riding encompasses the Ring of Fire, predicts blockades of both mines and roads, and opposition leaders have denounced the bill as a “power grab.”
Ford’s government contends that lengthy consultation processes have twice derailed Ring of Fire projects—once driving a $3 billion investor away in 2012 and again stalling efforts restarted in 2013. To soften resistance, the legislation earmarks $3 billion in loans for First Nations partnerships and now explicitly includes Indigenous peoples’ constitutional right to consultation.
A Fraser Institute report notes federal spending on Indigenous programs rose from $11 billion in 2015 to $32 billion in 2025, with living standards on reserves improving only marginally, suggesting development projects may offer a more sustainable uplift.
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