A striking majority of Ontario voters believe Indigenous communities should have the final say over mining projects on their traditional territories, according to a newly released poll that challenges Premier Doug Ford’s controversial changes to the province’s mining laws.
The survey, conducted by Abacus Data for the Yellowhead Institute, found that 65 percent of Ontarians support requiring consent from First Nations before mining projects proceed on their territories. Only 13 percent opposed this requirement, with the remainder undecided.
These findings come as the Ford government pushes forward with Bill 5, the Mine Development Support Act, which critics argue weakens environmental protections and sidesteps meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities in favor of accelerating critical mineral extraction.
“What we’re seeing is a significant disconnect between government policy and what ordinary Ontarians believe is right,” says Hayden King, executive director of the Yellowhead Institute. “People understand that consent isn’t just a legal nicety—it’s fundamental to reconciliation.”
The poll reveals support for Indigenous consent cuts across political lines. Among Progressive Conservative voters—Ford’s own base—57 percent support requiring Indigenous consent before mining projects proceed. This jumps to 75 percent among Liberal voters and 80 percent among NDP supporters.
The government has framed Bill 5 as essential to Ontario’s economic future, positioning the province as a critical minerals powerhouse for electric vehicle manufacturing and clean technology. Resources Minister George Pirie has repeatedly emphasized the legislation will create jobs while ensuring “meaningful consultation” with Indigenous communities.
But Chief Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation describes the government’s approach differently: “They’re telling us they’re consulting, but they’re not listening. Consultation without the possibility of ‘no’ isn’t consultation at all.”
The Ford government introduced Bill 5 last fall with little public fanfare, but the legislation has sparked growing concern among environmental groups and First Nations communities across the north. Critics point to provisions that allow mining companies to begin work before environmental assessments are completed, potentially creating irreversible damage to sensitive ecosystems and culturally significant areas.
“This isn’t just about mining. It’s about who gets to decide what happens on lands that Indigenous peoples have stewarded for thousands of years,” explains Dayna Scott, an environmental law professor at York University. “The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes free, prior and informed consent as a fundamental principle. Ontario seems to be moving in the opposite direction.”
The legislation’s timing coincides with growing global demand for critical minerals needed for renewable energy and electric vehicles. Ontario’s Ring of Fire region, about 500 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay, contains significant deposits of chromite, nickel, copper, and other minerals considered essential for green technology.
For communities like Webequie First Nation, situated near proposed mining developments, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Chief Cornelius Wabasse has expressed cautious interest in development that respects the community’s rights and environmental concerns.
“We want prosperity for our people too,” Chief Wabasse said at a recent community gathering. “But not at any cost. The land sustains us—our culture, our food, our medicine. Once it’s damaged, those things don’t come back.”
The Abacus poll also found that 73 percent of Ontarians believe environmental assessments should be completed before mining projects begin—directly contradicting provisions in Bill 5 that allow companies to start construction before assessments are finalized.
When asked about the poll results, a spokesperson for Minister Pirie said the government remains committed to “meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities” while creating jobs and economic opportunities. The statement did not address the consent issue directly.
Opposition critics have seized on the findings. “This government is out of step with Ontarians,” says NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, who represents the northern riding of Kiiwetinoong. “People understand that true reconciliation means respecting Indigenous rights to self-determination, not pushing through projects over their objections.”
The survey comes at a challenging political moment for Ford, whose approval ratings have declined amid controversies over healthcare, education, and environmental policies. Political analysts suggest the government may have miscalculated public sentiment on Indigenous rights.
“There’s been a real shift in public consciousness since the discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools,” notes political scientist Laura Stephenson from Western University. “Ontarians increasingly recognize that respecting Indigenous rights isn’t optional—it’s essential to moving forward as a province.”
For communities on the front lines, the debate continues with high stakes. Lawyers representing several First Nations communities have indicated they’re prepared to challenge Bill 5 in court if the government proceeds without amendments to strengthen environmental protections and respect Indigenous decision-making authority.
As Isadore Day, former Ontario Regional Chief, puts it: “The minerals will still be there in twenty years. But if we rush this and get it wrong, the damage to relationships and to the land could last generations.”
With the spring legislative session approaching, all eyes are on whether the Ford government will heed these concerns or push forward with Bill 5 as written. For now, it appears that on this issue, the public’s view aligns more closely with Indigenous communities than with Queen’s Park.
