Ontario's Ministry of Energy and Mines has snapped back at Ontario's New Democratic Party for being "stuck in protest mode" instead of standing up for the development and advancement of the mining industry in Northern Ontario.
A news release issued Wednesday took a harsh tone with recent statements from NDP MPPs who have spoken out against Ontario's Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025
"The Ontario NDP say they support Northern workers and support mining. But when it comes time to act, they vote no — every time," said the release from the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The ministry statement further accused the New Democrats of being against progress.
"They opposed the Building More Mines Act, legislation that cuts red tape, accelerates approvals, and upholds the Crown’s Duty to Consult. Now, they’re doing it again — standing in the way of growth, jobs, and prosperity," said the government news release.
Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce is quoted in the release. He said Ontario must build mines faster.
“We can’t wait 15 years to build a mine. The world is moving fast, and Ontario is ready to lead,” said Lecce.
“That’s why we’re cutting approval times, protecting our resources from foreign control, and putting Indigenous communities at the centre of our growth strategy. The NDP knows how to oppose — not how to build.”
While the British Columbia NDP and federal Liberals back fast-tracking and nation-building projects, Ontario’s NDP are stuck in protest mode – fighting the very infrastructure that will power a modern clean economy, said the ministry release.
Among those who have opposed Bill 5 are Sudbury MPP Jamie West. He spoke in the Legislature on May 7 to say Bill 5 is not truly about mining but an omnibus bill about fixing other things the Ford Conservatives want, through the creation of special economic zones.
"I live in a mining town. I started paying my mortgage because I had a job in mining. My parents came to Sudbury to work in mining. My grandfather is a miner. My dad is a miner. My stepdad is a miner. Most of my friends still work in that industry. And nobody in my city is happy with this bill being less than one per cent about mining and 99 per cent about nonsense," said West.
"This is an omnibus bill. Nobody in the world needs 229 pages to say, “A ‘one-project, one process’ approval model, streamlining the approvals, with a dedicated team to help things be more efficient”—but you do need 229 pages if you want to scrap the Endangered Species Act," said West.
