{"id":19104,"date":"2025-07-17T16:33:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T20:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/?post_type=article&p=19104"},"modified":"2025-08-05T18:12:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T22:12:45","slug":"first-nations-challenging-billc5-and-bill5","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/en\/news\/first-nations-challenging-billc5-and-bill5","title":{"rendered":"Green Party Stands in Solidarity with First Nations Challenging Bill C\u20115 and Ontario\u2019s Bill\u202f5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

OTTAWA<\/strong> \u2014 The Green Party of Canada stands with unwavering support with the nine Ontario First Nations that have launched a constitutional challenge in the Ontario Superior Court against federal Bill\u202fC\u20115 and Ontario\u2019s Bill\u202f5. These Nations are asserting that both laws represent a clear and present danger to First Nations\u2019 self-determination rights, and seriously undermine the duty to consult and deeper constitutional obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passed last month at the federal level and earlier this summer in Ontario, these bills fast-track infrastructure projects like pipelines, mines, and special economic zones, by allowing governments to bypass environmental reviews, municipal regulations, and Indigenous consent processes. This consolidation of ministerial authority severely threatens the rights and lands First Nations have long protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Green Party has consistently opposed Bill\u202fC\u20115, condemning its passage as a rushed effort that sidelines First Nations, legal experts, environmental scientists, and public input. Ontario\u2019s Bill 5 exacerbates these concerns at the provincial level, risking Indigenous jurisdiction and critical environmental protections, including endangered species and habitat assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis constitutional challenge is a courageous stand against the concentration of unchecked power,\u201d said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada. \u201cBill\u202fC\u20115 and Bill\u202f5 threaten Indigenous sovereignty, environmental health, and our democracy. It sets a dangerous precedent for legislation under this new government\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These laws threaten to unilaterally ram through projects without meaningful engagement with First Nations. Such legislation violates the spirit and letter of Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and Canada\u2019s obligations under UNDRIP. It undermines the federal duty to consult and negotiate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to express our deep gratitude to these nine Nations for their leadership,\u201d added May. \u201cThis legal challenge gives us a chance to choose a better path, one rooted in respect, consent, and shared stewardship. We hope the court does the right thing and strikes down Bill\u202fC\u20115. The future of this country must be built with Indigenous Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reconciliation demands more than words, it requires transferring meaningful authority to Indigenous governments and respecting territorial stewardship. The Greens remain steadfast in supporting First Nations in this legal and moral struggle, and we will continue fighting for a just, sustainable, and democratic future for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 30 \u2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For more information or to arrange an interview:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

media@greenparty.ca<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OTTAWA \u2014 The Green Party of Canada stands with unwavering support with the nine Ontario First Nations that have launched a constitutional challenge in the Ontario Superior Court against federal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"location":[33],"section":[6],"class_list":["post-19104","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","location-ottawa","section-media-release"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/19104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=19104"},{"taxonomy":"section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenparty.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section?post=19104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}