This morning at Queen’s Park, OFL President Laura Walton joined Anishnaabe Chief Scott McLeod and spokesperson for the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin and former Chief Dean Sayers, ONDP Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition Marit Stiles, Deputy Leader Sol Mamakwa, and Shadow Minister Jamie West to issue a clear and urgent warning: The “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, or Bill 5” is a direct threat to Indigenous rights, worker protections, and democracy itself.
During Question Period, we witnessed MPP Sol Mamakwa – Ontario’s only First Nations MPP, named and removed from the Legislature for refusing to withdraw his statement that the Doug Ford Conservatives have mislead First Nations about Bill 5. We respect MPP Mamakwa’s courage and principled stance in speaking the truth and defending Indigenous rights.
“If Ford thinks he can bulldoze his way through Indigenous territory without consent, he’s not just provoking a backlash, but he’s reigniting a movement,” said OFL President Laura Walton referencing the Idle No More movement that rose in response to the federal Conservative government’s Bill C-45.
Indigenous communities and workers have been clear: we are not opposed to development. In fact, we welcome responsible projects that respect land, honour treaty obligations, protect workers’ rights, and treat First Nations and Indigenous communities as true partners.
What we oppose, and what labour will never accept, is a government pushing through legislation that overrides rights workers and Indigenous communities have fought and bled for, silences dissent, and excludes the very people it impacts the most.
We will not allow this government to ignore its duty to consult, seek consent and show respect to the workers and communities they are meant to serve.
“Workers and Indigenous peoples have stopped governments before, and we will again.”
