Ontario fast-tracks mine despite Grassy Narrows First Nation’s concerns | The Narwhal

Share Summary The Ontario government has designated Kinross Gold Corporation’s Great Bear mining project under a process meant to speed up project approvals. It is the third mine to receive this designation, called One Project, One Process. Downstream of the Great Bear project, Grassy Narrows First Nation (Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek) has already opposed a water-taking permit for the mine, and awaits a hearing for its legal challenge of Ontario’s Mining Act. We’re trying out staff-written summaries. Did you find this useful? YesNo At a mining conference in Toronto last week, with more than 20,000 people in attendance, demonstrators demanded answers from Ontario Premier Doug Ford as to when Grassy Narrows First Nation (Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek) would be compensated for the mercury contamination that has poisoned the community as a result of past industry presence. Ford was there, flanked by ministers, to announce his government’s plan to speed up road-building to the Ring of Fire mining district on Treaty 9 territory, known by some First Nations as Bakitanaamowin Aki, which means “the Breathing Lands.” The demonstrators were swiftly removed by security as Ford continued his announcement. On Feb. 17, a couple weeks earlier, the Ontario government added a third mine to the list of projects it plans to fast-track in a bid to shore up the economy against tariffs posed by U.S. President Donald Trump, despite concerns from Grassy Narrows First Nation, downstream.  Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce announced the mine, Kinross Gold Corporation’s Great Bear project would move ahead under the One Project, One Process, framework meant to streamline approvals. The Ford government says the Kinross project is expected to create 900 jobs during operation and deliver “new economic opportunities to the region,” according to the announcement.  There’s more to the story of Ontario’s environment. And we’re telling it The Narwhal’s Ontario bureau brings you reporting you won’t find anywhere else. Sign up for a weekly dose of our independent journalism SUBSCRIBE There’s more to the story of Ontario’s environment. And we’re telling it The Narwhal’s Ontario bureau brings you reporting you won’t find anywhere else. Sign up for a weekly dose of our independent journalism SUBSCRIBE “By fast-tracking Kinross Gold’s Great Bear project, we’re getting shovels in the ground, proving that world-class projects can be built with speed and in partnership,” Lecce said in a press release. “Ontario’s accelerated permitting regime, reliable energy and skilled workforce is positioning our province as the world’s most attractive and predictable investment opportunity.” Absent from the press conference and release on the project was mention of a recent challenge by Grassy Narrows First Nation against Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks over a water permit granted to Kinross for exploration at Great Bear. The nation is also awaiting its day in court over a legal challenge to Ontario’s Mining Act, filed in 2024, where Grassy Narrows has claimed open access to mineral staking, including on First Nations territory, is unconstitutional and not aligned with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, known as UNDRIP. That followed a 2018 land declaration by Grassy Narrows First Nation, which banned “mineral staking and mining” on its lands. Since then, 6,000 mining claims have been registered through the province on Grassy Narrows’ territory. Six northern First Nations also filed a case over Ontario’s Mining Act shortly after Grassy Narrows. Dive deeper on this topic Life on the frontlines of Ontario’s critical mineral boom Chief Sherry Ackabee of Grassy Narrows was reached for comment but unable to provide a response prior to publication. In 2024, former chief Rudy Turtle said, “The mining act takes us in the opposite direction of reconciliation and healing, and forces more grief and conflict on my people whose burden is already too great. I will not stand for this, and I hope that the courts will see that justice is done here for Grassy Narrows and for all First Nations.” The British Columbia Court of Appeal recently ruled on a similar challenge in December 2025, finding that the province’s free-entry mining regulations did not abide by the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP, as well as the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. The B.C. government has sought leave to appeal this decision. As for the fast-tracking legislation, the Ford government has stated that the Crown’s duty to consult First Nations “remains fully upheld,” with the framework providing a more “coordinated and transparent approach” to consultations.  Kinross Gold CEO J. Paul Rollison said the One Project, One Process framework “reflects the province’s commitment to strengthening coordination, predictability, integration and accountability for responsible mining development, all while maintaining high standards of environmental oversight and meaningful indigenous consultation.” Three mines designated under Ontario’s fast-tracking framework Ontario has already designated the Crawford Nickel mine, outside Timmins, Ont., for fast-tracking, as well as Frontier Lithium’s project near Red Lake, Ont., under the One Project, One Process framework. The province has said the new process, established under Bill 5, will “reduce government review times by at least 50 per cent.” Under Bill 5, the new One Project, One Process designation will reduce what the Ford government calls “red tape” by designating the Ministry of Energy and Mines as a single point of contact. The ministry will create a “mine authorization and permitting delivery team” to write fast-tracking plans and see projects through. They will also coordinate with “any other ministry to expedite the application, review and decision-making processes for the permits and authorizations specified in the plan.” Minister of Red Tape Reduction Andrea Khanjin has said environmental safeguards will remain in place under the new process.  Ontario Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth George Pirie, left, and Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce, fourth from left, announced the Great Bear project’s designation for fast-tracking, along with workers, MPPs and industry representatives. Photo: Mississauga—Erin Mills MPP Sheref Sabawy / Facebook The Chiefs of Ontario have previously raised concerns about the province’s proposed fast-tracking legislation. The organization, which represents First Nations interests across the province, has said it supports responsible resource development, but not at the expense of First Nations’ Treaty Rights and environmental stewardship. A representative from the organization acknowledged an interview request, though was unable to comment by publication time. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict previously stated, “We are concerned that this legislation may directly or indirectly impact how mining companies interact with First Nations inherent, Treaty and constitutional rights. True economic reconciliation cannot happen through exclusion.”  The Canadian Environmental Law Association stated in a submission to Ontario’s environmental registry that while it supports an “expeditious and efficient permitting process for mining operations,” it had concerns that the fast-tracking law did not “recognize the trade-offs between expediting the permitting process and the need for a thorough and rigorous review of mining operations.” The association, which has represented Grassy Narrows in legal proceedings, noted “mining projects are very complex and can have significant adverse impacts on the environment and the health and safety of Ontarians.” It also referenced a study from British Columbia that found economic conditions, such as commodity prices, are more often the cause of delays in developing mines, rather than government regulations. Kinross did not respond to The Narwhal’s detailed questions about how the fast-tracking designation would affect environmental oversight, including safeguards around water quality. The Ministry of Energy and Mines also did not respond to questions by publication time. More permits pending in Grassy Narrows, adding uncertainty to water system safety In Grassy Narrows, about 100 kilometres south of Red Lake, Ont., the ecosystem and people are still living with the catastrophic effects of tonnes of mercury released by a pulp mill into the Wabigoon-English River system. In 2025, the nation took the provincial Environment Ministry to the Ontario Land Tribunal over permits the ministry had issued Kinross for water taking during its exploration phase. In its application, Grassy Narrows argued that no meaningful free, prior and informed consultation had occurred when these permits were granted. And the nation brought forward concerns that water containing sulphates would be released back into the already-contaminated water system and accelerate the formation of methylmercury, a deadly neurotoxin. The Ontario Land Tribunal stated in its decision that “no reasonable person” would have issued the permit, which the tribunal agreed “could result in significant harm to the environment,” and granted the community the right to appeal under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights framework.  Dive deeper on this topic Does Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights still have teeth? Before the appeal could proceed, Kinross withdrew the application. The company then reapplied for similar permits shortly after, which are still pending; both are classified as “Category 3” permits, which are defined as “water takings [that] are anticipated to have the highest potential of causing unacceptable environmental impact or interference.” It is unclear whether permits like this can now be fast-tracked under the new provincial framework. The Ministry of Environment did not respond to requests to clarify how the new permit process will interact with the Environmental Bill of Rights or if the new process applies to permits to take water.  The Ford government has also recently proposed exempting mining companies from the requirement to obtain permits to take water for what they describe as “certain low-risk early exploration activities” and “aspects of advanced exploration projects,” but stated environmental protections will be maintained, according to a posting to Ontario’s Environmental Registry. How our journalism makes a difference Here at The Narwhal, we do journalism differently. As an independent non-profit, we’re accountable to you, our readers — not advertisers or shareholders. So we measure our success based on real-world impact: evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.Our stories have been raised in legislatures across the country and cited by citizens in petitions and letters to politicians.Take our reporting on Alberta’s decision to allow cougar hunting in parks, which was cited in an official ethics complaint against the parks minister. And, after we revealed an oil and gas giant was permitted to sidestep the rules for more than 4,300 pipelines, the BC Energy Regulator started posting the exemptions it grants publicly.This kind of work takes time, money and a lot of grit. And we can’t do it without the support of thousands of readers just like you. Will you help us dig deep by joining as a monthly or yearly member, for any donation amount you can afford? Yes, I’ll support independent journalism How our journalism makes a difference Here at The Narwhal, we do journalism differently. As an independent non-profit, we’re accountable to you, our readers — not advertisers or shareholders. So we measure our success based on real-world impact: evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.Our stories have been raised in legislatures across the country and cited by citizens in petitions and letters to politicians.Take our reporting on Alberta’s decision to allow cougar hunting in parks, which was cited in an official ethics complaint against the parks minister. And, after we revealed an oil and gas giant was permitted to sidestep the rules for more than 4,300 pipelines, the BC Energy Regulator started posting the exemptions it grants publicly.This kind of work takes time, money and a lot of grit. And we can’t do it without the support of thousands of readers just like you.Will you help us dig deep by joining as a monthly or yearly member, for any donation amount you can afford? I’ll support independent journalism