Ford government to limit debate on controversial Bill 5, hundreds of First Nations members protest [Video]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is moving to shut down debate on its most controversial piece of legislation this session, one of a plethora of bills getting the fast-track treatment before the legislature rises for a summer break.

A mining law known as Bill 5 that would give the government power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas deemed to have economic importance — and remove some endangered species protections — has sparked a lot of opposition.

A legislative committee heard from First Nations leaders and environmental groups, as well as mining groups, over two days and as the committee was considering amendments last week the NDP and Liberals used procedural tools to grind the process to a halt, in protest.

Government house leader Steve Clark is now stepping in to limit further committee time and require the bill to go back to the house for …