Hundreds of First Nations members protest Ontario mining bill at Queen’s Park [Video]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is pushing through a controversial mining bill despite the protests of several hundred First Nations members who came from the far north to the front lawn of Queen’s Park on Monday.

“Kill Bill 5, kill Bill 5,” the crowd chanted.

The province moved to shut down debate on 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.

The proposed legislation has sparked an angry backlash from First Nations who say the bill tramples their rights and ignores their concerns. They’ve asked the province to scrap the bill and to draft legislation alongside First Nations as partners.

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