SIOUX LOOKOUT– NDP MPP and Shadow Minister for Indigenous and Treaty Relations, Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) released this statement following the Ford government spending $12 million on advertising its Ring of Fire plans.
"The Premier has found $12 million to gaslight Ontarians about his Ring of Fire plans but apparently can't find the time to respect the treaty rights of the First Nations whose lands and waters he wants to develop, especially as many communities struggle with basic services, like clean water and access to healthcare. This is backwards.
"Instead of spending millions of taxpayer dollars selling Ontarians on a plan that isn't even fully developed, the Ford government should be sitting down with Treaty No. 9 rights holders and listening to them. You cannot advertise your way around treaty rights.
"First Nations should not be an afterthought, and we will not be bullied into accepting the Premier's plan that affects our lands and waters without our meaningful involvement and consent. If the Ford government wants to talk about economic development, let's have that conversation. But development must be done in partnership with First Nations, not to First Nations. Stop spending millions on advertising and instead start respecting treaty rights."