THUNDER BAY — Mel Hardy sees plenty of opportunity in his part of Ontario.
“We have treaties, we have opportunities, and we have the land,” the Northern Superior regional chief of Anishinabek Nation said Wednesday.
“And that land is what’s going to give us the opportunities and engagements with the various industries, especially mining groups.”
Actors in the mining sector want to “establish a real relationship” with First Nations, he said, “so there is opportunity there.”
Hardy, from Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, was speaking during the lunch break on the first day of the Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities Forum, which concluded Thursday.
Anishinabek Nation economic development director Jason Laronde stressed that economic development is “critical” to First Nation communities’ future.
“What’s really important is establishing or supporting self-determination, working with our communities, identifying what those needs and those interests are for our communities,” said Laronde, who is from Nipissing First Nation.
“Generational wealth is very important for our communities. We need to have our communities be in a better position to support new infrastructure.
“Earlier today, we talked about the expansions of lands being added to reserves. What does that mean for our communities?
“I think those are opportunities to expand and create generational wealth for our communities.”
Scott McLeod, the Lake Huron regional chief in Anishinabek Nation, said he’s at the forum “looking at helping seek out any future economic developments that could be brought to our area, (and) looking at resolving some of the longstanding issues that create barriers to economic development in our communities with government, industry and outside organizations that encroach upon our lands.”
He said that includes “pushing back on Bill C-5 and Bill 5 and Bill C-39,” legislation he said “really water down or trample over treaty-protected inherent rights.”
Bill C-5, which became law in late June 2025, empowered the federal government to fast-track projects deemed “in the national interest.”
Its passage in the House of Commons and Senate followed the Ontario legislature’s approval of Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, which authorized the provincial government to create “special economic zones” where laws and regulations can be skirted to get projects started quickly.
Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, which would make changes to many statutes and regulations to expedite project approval, is being reviewed by committees of Parliament.
The official theme of this year’s economic forum is Unlocking Our Potential: Infrastructure, Investment & Innovation.
The forum was scheduled to wrap up at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a post-forum gala dinner in the evening.
