Nos. 7-8
July-August 2025
Militant Opposition to State-Sanctioned Impunity and Abuse of Power
• Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act
• First Nations Commence Legal Action Against Laws Aimed at Bypassing Their Consent
• Carney's Bogus "First Nations Summit" in Gatineau
• Indigenous Peoples Affirm Their Right to Be and Demand Withdrawal of Anti-Social Legislation
Northern Ontario
• Opposition to Aerial Spraying of Broad Spectrum Herbicide
Mid-August Update
Militant Opposition to State-Sanctioned Impunity and Abuse of Power
Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act
The federal government of Mark Carney and provincial governments,
especially the government of Ontario under Doug Ford, are
implementing a nation-wrecking agenda in the name of
nation-building, prosperity and national security. It amounts to
restructuring the state to satisfy the demands of oligopolies and
the international financial oligarchy. These governments are giving
these narrow private interests unfettered access to Canada's
resources, using anti-democratic means to do so.
The self-serving narrative of Mark Carney, his Ministers and private media, as well as pundits of all kinds, is that because Canada is facing an existential crisis due to U.S. tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st state, governments are entitled to pass laws which grant them the right to essentially rule with emergency powers. The federal government's Bill C-5 and Ontario government's Bill 5 give the Prime Minister and Premier respectively the power to amend or override existing laws and regulations to fast-track projects, trampling on the rights of Canadians, Quebeckers, and the Indigenous Peoples, Métis and Inuit with impunity.
Bill C-5, officially titled the One Canadian Economy: An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, was fast-tracked through Parliament and the Senate and received royal assent on June 26. Only 20 days had passed since its tabling in the House of Commons on June 6. An appeal by Indigenous leaders to Governor General Mary Simon to withhold royal assent was ignored.
The main features of the legislation are to reduce interprovincial
trade barriers and to create a framework for fast-tracking large-scale
infrastructure and energy projects that the Cabinet declares to be in
the "national interest."
On the passage of the bill, Mark Carney posted on the Prime Minister's website, "The legislation will build one strong Canadian economy by removing federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, helping goods, services, workers, and businesses move freely across provinces and territories; expediting nation-building projects that will connect and transform our country and unleash economic growth while ensuring environmental protections and Indigenous rights are upheld."
Projects may include mines, pipelines, ports, highways, transmission lines and nuclear plants. Projects declared to be in the "national interest" would be approved under a new "single window" process overseen by a federal minister. Once designated, a project can skip several regulatory hurdles.
According to the new law, elements that might make a project
"nationally significant" include the assessment of a minister that it
will "strengthen Canada's autonomy, resilience and security; provide
economic or other benefits to Canada; have a high likelihood of
successful execution, advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and
contribute to clean growth and to meeting Canada's objectives with
respect to climate change." None of those conditions are binding. These
high-sounding aims remain discretionary based on who knows what
interests the minister or cabinet are pushing.
In other words, it gives the cabinet full discretion to decide -- without public debate or Parliamentary vote -- what makes the list.
The Liberal minority government, with the support of the
Conservatives, limited debate in the House of Commons and the Standing
Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and took measures
to ensure fast passage in the Senate in order to have the law in place
before Parliament recessed for the summer. In the House of Commons,
separate votes were held on June 20 on each of the two parts.
The first part of Bill C-5, An Act to Promote Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada passed by a vote of 335 to one, with Green Party MP Elizabeth May the dissenting vote.
The second part, the Building Canada Act, passed by a vote of 306 to 31. The Conservatives supported the government while NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green MPs, as well as one Liberal MP, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, opposed it.
The Senate held one vote on both parts and a standing vote did not take place so there is no record of which and how many Senators voted for or against. Only eight witnesses were allowed to testify before the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, although many more wanted to speak.
Bill C-5 and recent laws with similar aims that have been passed in a similar anti-democratic manner in Quebec, Ontario, BC and other provinces are widely condemned because they deprive the Indigenous Peoples of their right to self-determination and deprive everyone of the right to have a say over matters which concern them. They are steeped in 19th century colonialist notions that are racist to the core.
Massive opposition, rallies, letters, press conferences and written submissions from myriad organizations, including nation-wide condemnation of the government's disregard for the rights of Indigenous Peoples have ensued. In response, Carney and his ministers have been tripping over themselves to insist that no projects will move forward without "consultation" with Indigenous Peoples.
This response has only deepened the crisis of credibility of the government and the democratic institutions in Canada because, as Indigenous organizations and others have pointed out, they and everyone else were shut out of any consultation on Bill C-5 itself. No one believes that after the government has given itself carte blanche to override federal and provincial laws and regulations it will then uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples to free, prior and informed consent, the right to say NO! to projects that a cabinet minister has deemed to be in the "national interest."
Since then, Carney has held meetings with First Nations, Inuit, and
Métis. Despite Carney and his team hand-picking those with whom they
choose to "consult," they continue to meet with militant resistance.
The Carney government is ruling by usurping the rights of Parliamentarians. It is also using every means possible to deny the right of Canadians and Quebeckers to participate in making decisions about the Canadian economy to ensure that it is the well-being of the people, the protection of Mother Earth and trade with other countries on the basis of mutual benefit which guide them.
Carney's policy to do what it takes to "build, baby, build," as
he put it, is not only endangering the natural and social
environment but as part of this deepening the crisis of Canada's
democratic institutions.
Presenting the narrow private interests of oligopolies and the international financial oligarchy as nation-building is in no way credible and will increasingly become Carney's Achilles' heel. His peremptory attitude spotlights the dangers in which he is embroiling the people and the need for political renewal to vest sovereignty in the people.
First Nations Commence Legal Action Against Laws Aimed at Bypassing Their Consent
Nine Ontario First Nations filed a claim at the Ontario Superior Court on July 14 against the Ontario and Canadian governments seeking an injunction to prohibit the governments of Ontario and Canada from taking any steps pursuant to two recent bills they passed without their consent. The two laws in question are Ontario's Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025; and the federal Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which includes the Building Canada Act (BCA).
Specifically, the First Nations are seeking "an interim, interlocutory, and/or permanent injunction prohibiting Ontario and Canada from taking any step involved in acting pursuant to the purported authority of Bill 5 and the BCA (respectively), including by carrying out or implementing Special Economic Zones, the identification of National Interest Projects, or otherwise acting in a way that affects the Territories of the Applicant First Nations without their consent."
The application sets out how these laws violate the hereditary and
treaty rights of these First Nations, as well as Canada's
obligations under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples (UNDRIP) and other laws. They note the "Henry VIII clauses"
included in both pieces of legislation, "which grant sweeping
powers respectively to the Federal and Ontario Cabinets to speed
up development, dispense with regulatory requirements and ignore
the rights and interest of Indigenous Peoples."
Such clauses are derogatively named after Henry VIII, as they allow the Cabinet to modify primary legislation without going through the legislature or to set aside statutory regulatory requirements in the name of removing impediments to "economic development" and the "national interest."
The First Nations note that the federal and provincial legislation are "both consistent with Canada's expressed purpose to shift the focus of reviews from 'whether' to 'how' projects should be built. While First Nations would normally be engaged at the first stage question of designation of a project as a National Interest Project, the Henry VIII provisions authorize Canada to remove or degrade opportunities for Indigenous engagement and rights protection at all material stages thereafter."
The filing argues that the two laws build on one another, compounding their effects. "Since both are similar in their violative regimes, purposes and effects, there is no escape for First Nations," the lawsuit reads. Their claim notes that both laws "represent a clear and present danger" to the First Nations. They argue that both pieces of legislation authorize the Crown "to unilaterally ram through projects without meaningful or any engagement with First Nations" and "violate the constitutional obligation of the Crown to advance [...] reconciliation." The claim also dismisses the Crown's promises of consultation with Indigenous communities as a "smoke and mirrors trick" and says the "authorized exclusions" of First Nations contained in the legislation are "unconstitutional."
On July 16, the claimants held a press conference at Queen's Park to inform the public of their case.
Kate Kempton, the lawyer representing the First Nations involved, speaking at the beginning of the press conference, noted that these two laws give the "cabinet and governments unfettered powers" to fast-track megaprojects and sweep aside laws and processes that are in place to protect the lands and the people living on those lands. She noted that the claim made by both levels of government that the laws are necessary to protect the "national interest" and defend Canada against the Trump tariffs do not mean that they can override the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Kempton noted that both levels of government have failed to address "for decades" the dire human rights abuses in Indigenous communities including lack of housing, lack of clean water, health care and other basic rights and that these two laws will only further worsen the dire conditions Indigenous Peoples in Canada are living in. She noted the claimants will not permit the Crown to implement these laws and that they intend to pursue justice until victory.
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June Black, Chief of the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, one of the First Nations on the claim, said at the press conference, "What's about to happen is going to be very harmful. Bill 5 and Bill C-5 are pieces of legislation that attempt to bulldoze over our First Nation rights and lands with no respect for our decision-making and jurisdiction."
"First Nations have a right to self-determination," she said. "We
have a right to a way of life in our lands, and that way of life
includes decision-making and government authorities. Canada and Ontario
cannot continue to make unilateral decisions about developments and
major projects."
"We will not and do not tolerate Crown governments taking over our lands in whatever way they want. Crown governments are required to act honourably with respect to all decisions and dealings with First Nations. Speeding through projects and exempting projects from authorizations and approvals is far from honourable. Approving projects without the consent of First Nation peoples, who have been on this land forever, is even less honourable," Chief June Black added.
Taynar Simpson, Chief of Alderville First Nation, said: "We are the
only people that have been here for 10,000 years straight, and we're
always going to be here. It is our duty to ensure that our lands are
protected, that our nature is protected, that our ancestors who are
buried all over this territory are protected."
Sheri Taylor, Chief of Ginoogaming First Nation, noted: "Ontario and Canada are supposedly worried about President Trump and are using this as an excuse to further erode and degrade First Nations involvement, engagement and consent and decision-making."
"Crown governments are showing they are more concerned with the threats of our neighbouring president than the threats that First Nations have been facing for centuries," Taylor said.
Todd Cornelius, Chief of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, noted: "We are against our lands being taken from us and used in ways we do not agree with. We are interested in development that is done the right way. The right way means protecting and conserving the environment, lands, waters and species. The right way also means full participation in decision-making of First Nations who have the rights on our lands." The Chief also noted that this move by the Ontario and federal governments has aroused First Nations youth to become active in fighting for their rights and that this was a very important development.
Aroland First Nation is part of this legal challenge which is noteworthy because in January, the Ford government made much of its "partnership" with Aroland First Nation to build a road and other infrastructure to the Ring of Fire, implying the First Nation had agreed with everything the government is planning to do with the Ring of Fire. At the time, Aroland Chief Sonny Gagnon pointed out that Aroland agreed to the road and infrastructure upgrades for their community, but did not commit to anything else. The Ford government's misrepresentation of its agreement with the Aroland First Nation is par for the course of those who interest is purely self-serving.
To read the full application, click here.
(CBC, APTN, Government of Ontario, Windbreaker)
Carney's Bogus "First Nations Summit" in Gatineau
First Nations leaders take part in meetings with Carney government at the
Museum of History, Gatineau, July 17, 2025
One of the goals recent governments of Canada have set for themselves is how to swindle the Indigenous Peoples of what belongs to them by right, beginning with their consent on what happens on their territories. As governments have done since Confederation, this is mostly engineered through the band council system and Indian Act which are illegitimate instruments of the state. They were imposed to dispossess the Indigenous Peoples of all hereditary rights, commit cultural genocide against them and justify what cannot be justified. The rule of first the British colonialists and then the Anglo-Canadian oligarchy made Indigenous Peoples wards of an alien state. Having failed time and time again to get the Indigenous Peoples to acquiesce, first the Harper and then the Trudeau governments started making deals with business interests, using them to override Indigenous consent. The Trudeau government tried to do this surreptitiously in various ways, using the armed brutal interventions of the RCMP and political police in the case of the Wet'suwet'en in BC. The Carney government is doing it openly with no sense of shame whatsoever.
The two-day meeting organized by the Carney government on July 16 and 17 at the Museum of History in Gatineau showed that Carney thinks he can get away with attacking Indigenous sovereignty no matter how conspicuously bad it is. Carney called it the First Nations "major projects consultation summit."
The second day began with a presentation by Prime Minister Mark Carney followed by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak.
Though Carney insisted throughout his speech that he was there to "listen," the way the meeting was organized left little or no space for an actual exchange or for participants to give their views. Many felt they were being talked to, not listened to.
Carney called the event a major project summit, referring throughout his speech to ports, corridors, critical minerals, and the like. He gave as a model of partnership with First Nations the Cedar Natural Liquid Gas processing facility and export terminal in BC. Despite this, he insisted at the end of his speech that there is "no list of those projects." He suggested that the First Nations will be the ones deciding on these projects.
Carney's speech was a blatant example of how bankers and
financial oligarchs speak about matters the peoples hold sacred in
the name that it makes economic sense and if they oppose them,
then they only have themselves to blame for the desperate plight
they face as a result of the relations of oppression and
exploitation imposed on them.
Sounding like the big bad wolf dressed up as a granny all the better to eat Little Red Riding Hood, Carney spoke of "building a new chapter in the relationship between the government of Canada and the First Nations." He said the law is "the first federal legislation to put Indigenous economic growth at its core."
As if words mean whatever he wants them to mean, Carney said that
respecting the rights of the Indigenous Peoples is a fundamental
purpose of the Building Canada Act. "The Act requires
meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples both in the
process of determining which projects are in our collective
interests and of developing conditions
for the projects going forward, Carney said, profoundly and
fundamentally distorting the meaning of the word consultation as
enshrined in international laws Canada is duty-bound to uphold.
"This is a legal requirement in the Act which honours Section 35
of our Constitution, the duty to consult. It upholds the
government's commitment to implement the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including free, prior and informed
consent," Carney said.
As the Indigenous Peoples have clearly pointed out, this government is insisting on giving the interpretation of the Canadian state for the duty to consult which is that, at the end of the day, the executive power decides. This is how the Canadian state has interpreted Indigenous treaties since it was constituted in 1867. The role of the Indigenous Peoples is to comply with a smile on their faces, or be damned. In this country, everything is a privilege, not a right.
It is therefore no surprise that Carney has made it very clear that this consultation process is subject to the limits imposed by his new "Indigenous Advisory Council."
Chiefs have raised concerns about the independence of this council, and have pointed out that they want a say in who is appointed. They are also worried the government will use advice provided by that body as "consulting" with rights-holders while bypassing direct engagement with affected communities.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak addresses the meeting.
After Carney's remarks, media were escorted out of the room and barred from hearing AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak address the hundreds of chiefs gathered.
The AFN advocated for the entire meeting to be made public, and Woodhouse Nepinak later apologized for having to hold a press conference outside of the museum.
"You should have been in there, and you should have been able to hear my speech," she said. She repeated this sentiment later in the day to a group of youth who travelled to Ottawa to protest the new law.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the event at the press conference called by the chiefs after the meeting with Carney, Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief of Alberta Treaty 8, stated:
"We came out here to assert our rights. We didn't come out here to ask questions. We didn't come out here to put our hands out. We simply came here to assert our rights and make sure that each and every person understands what they're in for if they're coming for our resources."
Chief Jeff Copenace of Ojibways of Onigaming said: "If Canada wants to build, we want to build too," said Copenace. "We want to build youth infrastructure. We want to build youth crisis centres. We want to build youth rec centres [...] That's the type of projects that the youth are looking for, not necessarily the types of major projects that they're discussing here."
Attawapiskat First Nation youth leader Jeronimo Kataquapit led a group of 20 First Nation youth who, along with others, held actions at the entrance of the meeting and on Parliament Hill, where they spoke defiantly. At the Museum of History, they were met by RCMP officers who denied them entry.
"When people come into your home, you don't stand by and watch them do whatever they want. You protect it," Kataquapit told reporters outside the meeting.
"These current bills are a continuation of the doctrine of discovery, a document that does not consider us human," Cedar Aisipi from Attawapiskat First Nation said of the federal government's Bill C-5 and Ontario's Bill 5. "That is what these bills are. As a treaty rights holder, as someone with inherent rights, I reject Bill C-5 and Bill 5."
"We all understand we can't be silent, silence has never gotten us anything as First Nation people," said Cohen Chisel, from Lac Seul First Nation. "So we will take the stand and fight for the land and fight for our rights and our way and we'll make ourselves heard."
The youth protesters represented several youth-led movements, including Youth Rising Together, Urban Youth of Timmins, Mushkegowuk Youth Council and Assembly of 7 Generations.
Their protest is part of a larger movement of youth that now includes Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseego-stamok, a protest group of young First Nation walkers who journeyed by foot the 700 kilometres from Timmins to Toronto to protest Bill 5 and Bill C-5. The 22-day walk culminated in a rally at Queen's Park there on August 8.
Jeronimo Kataquapit has been leading a wilderness protest on the Attawapiskat River with his brother Jonathan and their parents James Kataquapit and Monique Edwards since mid-June.
He initiated this protest, "Here We Stand" against Ontario's Bill 5 and Canada's Bill C-5 as a way to help his community and members show the government and developers that their people still actively occupy, live on and use the land.
They travelled 400 kilometres on the Attawapiskat River to set up a permanent camp near the site of a planned bridge for the Ring of Fire mining development in this region.
(With files from APTN, CBC, Canadian Press; Photos: Treaty 8 Alberta, AFN.)
Indigenous Peoples Affirm Their Right to Be and Demand Withdrawal of Anti-Social Legislation
Actions Across Ontario Oppose Bill C-5 and Bill 5
Since June, protests have been underway against federal Bill C-5 and Ontario Bill 5, both of which represent a broad attack on the social and natural environments.
Queen's Park, July 26
Okiniwak, an organization of Indigenous youth hosted a joint rally
with Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseego-Stamok, and Youth Rising Together, two
other youth-led Indigenous groups, to oppose Bill C-5 and Ontario Bill
5.
Parliament Hill, July 17
Thunder Bay, June 12
An estimated 300 people attended a rally in front of the constituency
office of Kevin Holland, the MPP for Thunder Bay–Atikokan and Associate
Minister of Forestry and Forestry Products, to oppose Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing the Economy Act.
The minister was conveniently
absent and told his staff that they could not come out of their office
to listen to the concerns of his constituents. People from many First
Nations, their allies, environmentalists and folks from many sectors
came out to express their grievances about this omnibus bill.
Speakers pointed out that contrary to Holland's statements to the
press that Bill 5 is not about taking away rights, that is exactly what
it is doing. Bill 5 will significantly erode Indigenous rights,
environmental protection and the rule of law, they said.
Kenora, June 9
A group of First Nations from the Treaty 3 area gathered outside Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford's constitency office in Kenora on June 9, calling for the repeal of Ontario's Bill 5 and for Rickford's resignation.
Timmins, June 6
Canada Day Actions Defend Indigenous Rights and Rights of All
From Vancouver Island to Newfoundland and Labrador actions including
rallies, conferences, picnics and car rallies were held on July 1 to
express the commitment of Canadians and Quebeckers to uphold Indigenous
rights, to denounce legislation that will cause harm to people and to
the environment
and serve the U.S. war machine, and to demand that Canada meets it
obligations under Canadian and international law to stop the
U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Toronto
Two events were held on the grounds of the provincial legislature at Queen's Park on July 1 to denounce the racist Canadian state and its ongoing violations of the hereditary and treaty rights of Indigenous Peoples across Canada, as well as violation of the rights of all Canadians and Quebeckers in new legislation, Bill 5 in Ontario, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, and the Carney government's Bill C-5, An Act to Enact Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Build Canada Act.
The first was a morning rally and a short march organized by
Indigenous youth of the Okiniwak Movement, which comprises youth from
the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in northern Ontario and Indigenous
communities in southern Ontario. The event began at the Okiniwak
encampment just north of the Ontario
Legislature where, for more than 27 days, youth have been camping to
protest first Ontario Bill 5 and now also federal Bill C-5, keeping a
sacred fire.
Okiniwak encampment
Speaking
at the rally, a representative of the Okiniwak Movement noted that the
youth are the Seventh Fire generation and have taken up their social
responsibility in light of the teachings of Anishinaabe Prophecy, to
rebuild their nations after centuries-long colonial oppression and
genocidal policies of the Canadian state. He noted that the Crown has
never upheld its treaty obligations and agreements. This is evidenced by
the way both the federal Carney government and Ontario Ford government
are imposing Bill C-5 and Bill 5, respectively. The speakers pledged to
build the movement to ensure that the federal and provincial governments
cannot carry out their threats against the Indigenous Peoples in the
north, particularly with developments in the Ring of Fire where the
people have lived since time immemorial and rely on the land and the
waters for their well-being.
A youth from the Oneida Nation of the Thames, a member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, pointed out that well before Confederation, Indigenous Peoples had their own laws and systems of governance. There were also treaties between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples such as the Silver Covenant Chain, The Great Peace of Montreal, also known as the Treaty of 1701 signed between the Iroquois Confederacy and the French, as well as the Dish with One Spoon agreement and others. Canadian governments have repeatedly violated these treaties and "we won't have it," she said, adding "We are the First Peoples of this land. We are still here -- sovereign nations."
Nishnawbe
Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum told the rally
that her grandfather took part in the negotiation of Treaty Nine signed
between the Crown and the Cree of the James Bay and Hudson's Bay
regions. She noted that in those negotiations the Crown also came with
a
written document to be signed without any input from the First Nations
and noted that the same thing is being done with Bill 5 and Bill C-5.
She hailed the fighting spirit of the youth who are carrying on the
fight for Indigenous rights and sovereignty. She pointed out that
Indigenous Peoples have
no issue with development and prosperity, but they will not be swept
aside and their rights and demands disrespected.
Following the speeches participants marched to the front of the legislature to the statue of John A. MacDonald. At the base of the statue youth denounced the ongoing colonial policies of the Canadian and Ontario governments, pointing out that while governments fast-track projects like mining and road construction in the Ring of Fire, northern Indigenous communities have been on boil water advisories for decades, without adequate health care, housing and education. Many youth are driven to suicide because of the oppression and refusal of governments to uphold their treaty and human rights obligations. It has to stop right now, they emphasized. The morning action concluded back at the encampment.
The second action was organized by Idle No More Ontario, starting at 2:00 pm. Hundreds, including union members and people from all walks of life joined the Indigenous youth for a march and rally. Speaking at the rally before the march, Tori Cress, Idle No More Ontario Chapter co-founder, called for the repeal of the federal and provincial laws that violate Indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights and agreements, harm the natural environment and endanger all the people of Turtle Island.
Eve
Saint, a Wet'suwet'en land defender and financial divestment campaigner
for Gidimt'en Checkpoint, denounced the campaign of terror of the RCMP
paramilitary force against Wet'suwet'en land defenders in BC. She said
that it is the resistance of the Indigenous Peoples and Canadians that
is key
to opposing the new laws that Canada and provincial legislatures have
passed.
Other speakers emphasized the ties between the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Palestinian people in their common fight for their right to be, for justice and peace.
Following the speeches, participants marched south past the Ontario government's Canada Day "festivities" chanting Kill Bill 5!, No Means No! No Justice, No Peace! and other slogans.
As marchers attempted to continue south down University Avenue police attacked and arrested three people and forced the march to take a different route, east on College Street. Round dances were held to rally the support of passers-by, with several people joining the march from the sidewalks, fists raised in support.
The march ended back at the Okiniwak encampment where the organizers declared the actions a success and called on everyone to engage their colleagues, friends and neighbours to build the campaign for the repeal of Bills 5 and C-5.
Northern Ontario
On the Attawapiskat River, July 1
On July 1, chiefs and community members from James Bay territory gathered on the Attawapiskat River at a new encampment on the shared territory of the Neskantaga First Nation and Attawapiskat First Nation demanding the repeal of Bill 5 and plans to fast-track roads and mining in the Ring of Fire. An all-season road is planned which would cross the Attawapiskat River. Protesters say they will not permit anyone to use the crossing without their consent. "The Attawapiskat River is not a corridor for extraction -- it is a lifeline. Our ancestors are buried along its shores, our children learn from its currents, and we will defend it through any means necessary," Chief Gary Quisess of the Neskantaga First Nation said in a previous statement.
First
Nation leadership that attended the gathering included Chief Elizabeth
Kataquapit of Fort Albany FN, Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin of
Attawapiskat FN, Chief Gary Quisses of Neskantaga FN, Chief Hosea
Wesley of Kashechewan FN and Grand Chief Leo Friday of Mushkegowuk
Council, which
represents First Nations on the James Bay coast in northeastern
Ontario. All the leaders stood on the bank of the Attawapiskat River
surrounded by official flags from their communities to show their
support and address the gathering to a live streamed audience.
At another location, near Lake Superior, Chief Louis Kwissiwa of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg led a week-long protest on the Trans-Canada Highway, which started on June 30. Chief Kwissiwa posted on social media: "Ontario and Canada have no jurisdiction to impose these unconstitutional legislations that violate Indigenous rights, our sovereignty, and the protections of our traditional territories. These bills impact the environment, Aboriginal rights that are constitutionally enshrined, workers' rights and violate the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982." He called on everyone to join in, saying, "Friends and allies, it's not just an Indigenous issue. These undemocratic pieces of legislation impact all Canadians."
Montreal
More than 200 people, mainly youth, gathered on July 1 in front of the Radio-Canada building to demand that Bill 97, An Act Mainly to Modernize the Forest Regime, be withdrawn and that Bill C-5, An Act to Enact Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Build Canada Act, be repealed.
Placards, banners and flags echoed this theme, highlighting the fact that it is the unceded ancestral territories of Indigenous peoples that are being sacrificed to satisfy the pursuit of maximum profit by large private interests: Defend Hereditary Rights!, End Colonial Justice!, For an Economy that Humanizes the Natural and Social Environment!, Our Natural Resources For the People, Not the Oligarchs!, Bill 97: The Legault Government Must Be Stopped!, Together, Mamo, Mamu, Against Bill 97! Our Children's Future is Not For Sale!
Speakers reminded the crowd that on July 1, Canada Day, there is
nothing to celebrate about the Canadian state founded in 1867 on the
genocide of Indigenous Peoples who have occupied the territory that is
Canada since time immemorial. On the contrary, said one speaker,
Indigenous Peoples have every reason to mourn today for all the young
victims of residential schools and the missing and murdered Indigenous
women and girls.
She recalled that "today, this genocide no longer takes the form of rifles and residential schools, but has a completely different face. It takes the form of the slow and systematic dispossession of our unceded lands." This is clearly evident in the Carney government's Bill C-5 and Bill 97 of the Legault government.
Regarding Bill 97, speakers reiterated the importance of the boreal forest for maintaining biodiversity and essential to ensuring the vitality of all living species, including human beings. They emphasized the vital role of forests in storing carbon to counteract the devastating effects of climate change, including increasingly frequent and intense heat waves. They highlighted the destructive role of large forestry companies, which have free rein to carry out even more clear-cutting while replanting with a single commercial tree species, which contributes to the spread and intensity of forest fires.
The main Radio-Canada building was targeted by the organizers to denounce the state-owned broadcaster's lack of coverage of the past and present actions of Indigenous land defenders and their allies.
A representative of Mothers at the Front praised the initiative to hold these marches, which are not only an opportunity to reaffirm the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Quebec, but also the rights of all peoples around the world who are also resisting.
The participants then walked to Place Émilie-Gamelin, along Ste-Catherine Street, past shops and outdoor restaurants. Many passers-by and terrace patrons greeted the marchers by taking photos, joining them, or raising their fists to show their support. The march ended with organizers inviting everyone to join in traditional dances performed to the sound of drums.
Quebec City
On June 29 a militant action was organized by Intifada QC and Triangle Québec in opposition to a picnic held near Quebec City's De Bergerville Park to celebrate the colonial confederation day. The picnic was hosted by Liberal MPs Jean-Yves Duclos, MP for Québec Centre and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, and Joël Lightbound, MP for Louis-Hébert and Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement. The protesters chanted No Picnics During a Genocide! They denounced the U.S./Zionist genocide and the Carney government for its complicity in the genocide.
The call for action was very clear: "Mark Carney claims that Canada
is 'the most European country outside of Europe.' He supports the idea
of a 'Zionist Palestinian state' and proposes increasing military
spending to five per cent of Canada's GDP, or $150 billion a year, even
though we are not at
war with anyone. Meanwhile, the government turns a blind eye to an
ongoing genocide in Gaza, continues to steal Indigenous land here, and
leaves Palestinians living in Canada without health insurance or social
assistance.
"While we are invited to celebrate Canada with picnics and fireworks, we cannot ignore the profound injustices unfolding before our eyes. Celebrating in this context? It simply makes no sense."
During the protest, speakers denounced the picnic held while Canada continues to export goods for the Israeli military through the U.S.
They reiterated that international law requires not arming a state likely to commit human rights violations. The International Criminal Court has ruled that the Zionists are presumed guilty of such crimes, even genocide, and has warned that states that collaborate with them will also be prosecuted.
The protesters demanded a two-way embargo, not only on arms, and an end to all collaboration with this genocidal state, whether direct or indirect. They denounced the hypocrisy and impunity of the Liberal government, as well as of the two MPs who organized the picnic. They provided detailed information about all government actors and companies collaborating with the Zionists. They denounced the Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza for killing starving people desperately seeking to collect flour, and for lacing the flour with sand and drugs.
Speakers denounced colonialism, apartheid, and the genocide against the
Palestinian people, in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as attacks
against Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Congo, Sudan, Mali, Haiti, and other
countries. They also denounced Canadian mining companies and their
destructive activities, fueling war and aggression.
A speaker who denounced the genocide against First Nations by the Canadian state listed the names of all the residential schools in Quebec that have been ignored to this day and which the Canadian government refuses to investigate. These children are also those of Gaza, she said.
Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, which was passed under closure, was also denounced, as was Bill C-2, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures. Bill C-2 denies the right to asylum, contrary to international law, and betrays Canada's promise to welcome refugees, targeting people of African, Arab and Muslim origin.
Several people joined the picnic to denounce the crimes of the
Canadian state against the Palestinian people and against the
Indigenous Peoples, Canadians and Quebeckers, speaking for several
minutes, denouncing the Liberal government's vision of Canada.
Idle No More Demands Full Repeal of All 2025 Federal and Provincial Legislation that Infringes on Indigenous Peoples' Right to Self-Determination
The following call for the July 1 rally at Queen's Park in Toronto was issued by Idle No More Toronto, Idle No More Ontario and Idle No More on June 26 under the title, "Unleashing Anishinaabe Matriarchal Relationships, Roles, Responsibilities, and Reciprocity for Climate Justice."
Idle No More Toronto and Ontario chapters demand a full repeal of
provincial Bill 5 (Ontario), Bill 6 (Nova Scotia), Bill 97 (Quebec),
Bill 54 (Alberta), Bills 14 and 15 (BC), and federal Bill C-5, and Bill
C-2. The use of the nationalist call-to-arms "Elbows Up" is a Trojan
horse intended to
bulldoze internationally recognized Indigenous Rights and to streamline
so-called Canada's economy in its race to build itself up as a global
energy and mineral superpower.
Our traditional territories hold 34 of the critical minerals considered essential for the global energy transition. These provincial and federal bills will result in an escalation in exploitation that will continue to create sacrifice zones with negative impacts on human health and once pristine biodiverse territories – all for temporary, mostly male-dominated jobs and short-term economic gains for giant corporations.
Canada continues to lead the way in violating Indigenous Rights, creating irreparable harm to our shared waterways, the land, the precarious biodiversity, and puts Indigenous bodies on the frontline of destruction in our traditional territories.
In response to the full-scale legislative attack on the actual Title, Inherent and Treaty Rights Holders, we call on the grassroots people to push back against this monumental infringement of Indigenous, environmental and labour rights that's been reframed as Canada's economic pushback to Trump's tariffs. The last time we saw legislation this damaging to Indigenous Rights, the water, our homelands, and Indigenous bodies was Harper's Bill C-45, the Jobs and Growth Act and Bill C-38, the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act.
We call on all citizens on our shared traditional territories to actively resist the systems that continue to harm Indigenous communities, our water, our land, and our future generations and to root yourselves in solidarity with Indigenous communities and nations. [...]
Land acknowledgments aren't enough; we are in a crucial time that requires an immediate response and actionable allyship. Indigenous communities and nations are still evacuated far away from their homes, many in different provinces from where they fled, while wildfires are still raging across Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, BC and the Yukon, as reported by Natural Resources Canada's map.
We are up against an unfettered capitalist system trying to rape the earth of every last mineral and use every last drop of clean water, leaving nothing but a polluted planet in its wake. With extreme weather events making headlines all year round, and as we head into another summer predicted to be the hottest one yet, climate change caused by mega resource extraction is a reality that can no longer be denied.
Our youth are no longer asking but demanding meaningful and transformative change because it is them standing on the front line of climate change, extreme weather alerts, wildfires, and evacuation displacements, all while reclaiming our languages, cultural practices and rebuilding our family circles. We contribute the least to the devastation of the planet while being impacted the hardest and first.
We will no longer be pushed off our traditional territories in favour of resource and mining exploration companies, which we've noticed have now been given approval from two levels of government to proceed without the free, prior, and informed consent of the rights and title holders.
To that end, we will defend ourselves, our land, our water, and our right to exist as our Ancestors before us have, since time immemorial:
- We encourage all Indigenous matriarchs to hold healing spaces and lead water ceremonies across and on the land.
- We encourage all grassroots Indigenous Peoples to research and document your family lineage, ancestral presence, use of the land, and create documentation of your kinship ties to the land.
- We encourage Indigenous researchers to read "Living Proof: The Essential Data-Collection Guide for Indigenous Use-and-Occupancy Map Surveys" and put it into practice with others within your community and traditional territories.
- We encourage all grassroots Indigenous Peoples to read the "Getting Organized Booklet," a Truth Before Reconciliation Publication, 2020 and familiarize themselves with [the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)] Article 18 so that we can restore our sovereignty from so-called Canada's Indian Act Band Councils, to where it truly belongs. Our self-determination belongs to our Peoples without requiring the settler state's approval stamp.
- Support Indigenous Leadership: Organizations like the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) and the Neskantaga First Nation have publicly opposed Ontario's Bill 5. You can help by amplifying their messaging, attending and/or sharing their rallies and public education events.
- We demand a full repeal of all the 2025 provincial and federal legislation – passed and pending – that prioritizes colonial profit while turning a blind eye to the fundamental disregard for the Treaty and constitutional rights of the First Peoples of this land you call home.
National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrated in Gatineau
On days dedicated to Indigenous Peoples, including during National Indigenous History Month, Indigenous Peoples affirm their right to be and assert their ancestral and treaty rights. National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 is no exception. In 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood, now the Assembly of First Nations, called for the creation of National Aboriginal Solidarity Day. It wasn't until 1996 that the Governor General of Canada declared June 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day.
National Indigenous Peoples Day was celebrated this year in Gatineau with speeches, Indigenous food and craft booths, dancing and musical performances. The event was organized by the First Peoples Innovation Centre and the Maniwaki Native Friendship Centre, with the collaboration of the City of Gatineau, which set up Place Laval for the occasion. A spokesperson for the First Peoples Innovation Centre, in her opening address, said the day was an opportunity for Canadians and Quebeckers to celebrate the heritage, traditions and knowledge of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. "The summer solstice reflects our intimate ties to the land and to each other," she said.
A spokesperson for the Maniwaki Native Friendship Centre, Charlotte Commonda, spoke concretely about the challenges facing Maniwaki's Anishinaabe communities. The very creation of the Friendship Centre grew out of a need for a place where people could practice their culture, traditions and languages. The centre offers, among other services, a health clinic and a preschool program for children newborn to six years of age. She explained that when she was younger she herself had to travel two hours between Gatineau and Maniwaki to study at Heritage College. Even today, children have to travel two hours to go to high school. She said that parents in Indigenous communities want the best for their children, they want them to be able to be part of the social economy. To do this, young people have to leave their communities and risk losing their identity and language. She said that thousands of Indigenous people now live in Gatineau to study or work. In her opinion, because of these realities and the need to share and celebrate Indigenous culture with everyone, more celebrations of this kind are needed year-round.
Asserting Rights of Indigenous Peoples Puts Need for New Nation-to-Nation Arrangements on Agenda
This year's National Indigenous Peoples Day took place in a context where Indigenous Peoples are expressing their opposition to various bills that the governments of Canada, Quebec and provinces are passing or have passed to advance projects in the name of the "national interest" and the like. The new Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, Francis Verreault-Paul, has warned about the dangers of federal Bill C-5. In Quebec, he denounced the passage under closure of Bill 69 which gives Hydro-Québec a free hand to increase its electricity production. He also opposed Bill 97, An Act mainly to modernize the forest regime. In the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Mauricie regions, Indigenous communities have set up roadblocks on forestry roads to express their opposition to Bill 97. Verreault-Paul brings out that Bill 97 is a step backwards in terms of respect for Indigenous Peoples' rights, biodiversity conservation and forest sustainability. He condemned the Legault government's continued refusal to integrate the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into its laws and policies. "There's a big step to be taken at the legislative level. We have reached that point as a society," he said.
In an article by Martin Papillon published in La Presse a few days before National Indigenous Peoples Day, the author explains that not only is the Quebec government refusing to adopt the UNDRIP, it is also perpetuating policies that run counter to it. According to the author, Legault fears that it will give First Nations and Inuit a "right of veto" over development projects, or that it will limit Quebec's full legislative jurisdiction over its territory.
"However, these fears are unfounded," explains the author. "The UNDRIP does not call into question the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. Rather, it aims to rebalance relations by establishing certain limits on the power of states, just as charters of rights do for individuals."
Not only does Quebec refuse to commit to adopting legislation to implement the UNDRIP, explains the author, it too often ignores its principles in its actions. The government opposed the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families all the way to the Supreme Court. This law, inspired by the UNDRIP, recognizes the right of Indigenous Peoples to manage their own youth protection services. Quebec sees this as an infringement of its exclusive jurisdiction.
Papillon points out that the UNDRIP was adopted in 2007 by the UN General Assembly, following a long process of negotiation between member states and Indigenous representatives, and that it acts as an international charter for Indigenous Peoples. It affirms their right to self-determination, to the preservation of their cultures and legal systems, and to participation in decisions that affect them. In particular, it enshrines the principle of free, prior and informed consent to any measure affecting their rights or territories.
The author concludes by saying, "If the Legault government is really considering a draft Constitution for Quebec, why not seize this historic opportunity to enshrine Quebec's commitment to the rights of First Nations and Inuit, explicitly incorporating the UNDRIP as the foundation of this relationship?"
(With files files from Wawatay News, Radio-Canada and La Presse. Photos: Attawapiskat First Nation, Okiniwak Movement. TML. Kataquapit, L. Kwissiwa, )
Northern Ontario
Opposition to Aerial Spraying of Broad Spectrum Herbicide
Rally against aerial pesticide spraying, called by Serpent River First Nation, along the Trans Canada Highway, August 14, 2025.
On August 14, a demonstration called by Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders from the Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) was held along the Trans Canada Highway near Serpent River to oppose the aerial spraying of the broad spectrum herbicide glysophate, also known as Roundup. Some 300 people took part. An August 12 statement from the TEK elders calling for the action brought out, "The attack by the government of Ontario on our Anishinaabek way of life along the North Shore of the Great Lakes continues. In the latest assault, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has given only weeks' notice of a devastating aerial herbicide spray operation taking place between August 18 and September 30 across Anishinaabek lands near Elliot Lake, Blind River and Espanola. The operation will douse over 4,500 hectares in a commercial formulation containing the herbicide glyphosate. Similar operations are planned across other forest management areas.This herbicide impacts aquatic life, and kills blueberries and other crucial foods, medicines, and tree species necessary to forest life." Another protest is planned.
Isaac Murdoch of the SRFN, in his call to join the action gave "some key points from scientific studies and concerned professionals.
"Local Biologist: Charles Ramcharan, a biology professor at Laurentian University, has expressed significant concerns about the ecological impacts of glyphosate spraying in the Sudbury region.
"In a 2013 CBC News article, he noted that glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup, is a broad-spectrum herbicide that "will kill just about any living plant." He raised specific worries about its effects on amphibians, such as frogs and newts, which are abundant. Ramcharan also highlighted broader ecological consequences, stating that animals depend on the plants killed by glyphosate for food and cover, disrupting local ecosystems. While he acknowledged that glyphosate is considered safe for humans at recommended doses, his focus was on its environmental harm, particularly to non-target species.
"Carcinogenicity: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A) in 2015, based on evidence linking it to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans and sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals. A 2025 study by the Ramazzini Institute found tumors in multiple organs and early-onset leukemia in rats exposed to glyphosate at doses equivalent to the EU's "safe" intake levels (0.5 mg/kg/day), raising concerns about its safety in areas where people are exposed.
"Infant Health: A 2025 University of Oregon study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that glyphosate exposure in rural U.S. communities was associated with reduced birth weight (by ~29.8 grams on average), shortened gestation periods (by ~1.49 days), and increased risks of low birth weight and preterm birth, particularly in disadvantaged populations. The study linked these effects to the widespread use of glyphosate following the introduction of genetically modified crops.
"Endocrine and Reproductive Effects: Studies have shown glyphosate may act as an endocrine disruptor, affecting hormone systems. Research by Romano et al. (2012) and Thongprakaisang et al. (2013) linked glyphosate to reproductive toxicity in rats and estrogenic activity in human breast cancer cells, potentially impacting fertility and fetal development. A 2025 study also suggested glyphosate exposure may contribute to male infertility.
"Genotoxicity and Other Effects: Recent studies, including one on pesticide applicators, have indicated potential genotoxic effects of glyphosate, which could lead to DNA damage. Chronic low-dose exposure has also been associated with liver and kidney damage in animal studies, raising concerns for populations near sprayed areas.
"Environmental and Ecological Impacts: Non-Target Organisms: Glyphosate can drift from sprayed areas, affecting non-target plants and ecosystems. Studies show it harms beneficial soil microorganisms, earthworms, and pollinators like bees, impairing their navigation, immunity, and survival, which can disrupt local ecosystems in populated areas.
"Water and Soil Contamination: Glyphosate and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), have been detected in water sources (10 ng/L to 10 mg/L globally) and soil (up to 2 mg/kg in the EU), posing risks to drinking water and food chains in populated areas. Residues have been found in human urine, breast milk, and food products, indicating widespread exposure.
"Biodiversity Loss: The broad-spectrum nature of glyphosate can reduce plant diversity, impacting insects and food webs, which can affect ecological balance in urban and suburban areas where it is sprayed.
"Exposure in Populated Areas – Spray Drift and Residues:
Glyphosate's use in urban landscaping, roadside maintenance, and
residential settings increases exposure risks for residents, especially
children, pregnant women, and spray applicators. Studies estimate that
21 per
cent of EU soil samples contain glyphosate, and it is detectable in
human biofluids, with higher levels in those near agricultural or
sprayed areas."
Serpent River First Nation, August 14, 2025
West Nipissing, August 14, 2025
(Photos: I. Murdoch)
Mid-August Update
Wildfires in Canada, 2025
Across Canada, over 715 wildfires were burning as of August 13, 2025.
At least 155 of them were deemed out of control. As of this year, 7.7
million hectares of forest have burned, the second largest area since
the Canadian government agencies have been keeping tabs, with the worst
year being 2023 with 15 million hectares of land burned. The burned
forests across the country amount to 77,000 square kilometres,
equivalent to the area of New Brunswick. This summer, Canada has been
experiencing some of the most destructive wildfires in recent decades.
Extent of wildfires as of August 19. Red circles showing the
ones still out of control, orange circles showing the ones being held
and green circles the ones under control.
Although the number of fires is in line with the average over the last 10 years (see figure 1), the extent of the areas burned is much greater than the 10-year average (see figure 2). This is in part due to a severe lack of precipitation and heat waves across most of the country that contribute to the fast propagation of flames (see figure 3). Another reason is that Canada still doesn't have an early warning satellite system that would enable provincial and territorial fire protection agencies to send firefighting crews the moment fires are detected to immediately minimize their spread.[1]
Figure 1: 2025 seasonal fire occurrence in Canada, in weeks since the start of the fire season
(Week 1: April 30, 2025)
Figure 2: 2025 seasonal area burned in Canada, in weeks since the start of the fire season
(Week 1: April 30, 2025)
Figure 3: The Drought Code, a component of the Canadian
Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System. It is a numeric rating of the
average moisture content of deep, compact organic layers. This code is a
useful indicator of seasonal drought effects on forest fuels and the
amount of smoldering in
deep duff layers (the organic material that accumulates are around the
base of trees) and large logs.
Wildfire Situation from Atlantic to Pacific
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the wildfire burning close to Kingston (Adam's Cove area) covers approximately 6,370 hectares, and is currently considered out of control. This is also the case at Martin Lake, where the fire covers approximately 290 hectares, and at Paddy's Pond (near the town of Paradise), where the burned area is estimated at 212 hectares. At a briefing in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan said that six water bombers, including two from Ontario, are working to contain the flames at different parts of the province. A helicopter is being sent from Alberta.
In Nova Scotia, which has banned most summertime activities in wooded areas, Annapolis County residents in the Godfrey Lake-Long Lake area have been placed on alert as the 1,977 hectare wildfire there is out of control and expanding. A large ground force of more than 200 firefighters -- including 77 from the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, 120 local firefighters, 20 from Ontario and five from Prince Edward Island -- were on the scene trying to save homes on August 17. Firefighters in Halifax, meanwhile, battled a conflagration that appeared to have mostly stabilized by late August 13, as the province responded to at least 16 wildfires that began on August 12.
In New Brunswick, residents in Moncton have been told that the evacuation advisory was lifted as the Pit Fire, also called the Irishtown fire, was contained at 45 hectares. However, firefighters the Oldfield Road wildfire, 15 kilometres north of Miramichi, have not been able to contain it. The fire has grown to over 1,400 hectares. New Brunswick Natural Resources Minister John Herron said the conditions have been difficult for those on the front line. Over the past few days, three firefighters have been treated in hospital for heat exhaustion. The province was reporting 133 firefighters deployed as of August 13. He added that the province requested 60 additional firefighters from other jurisdictions, and so far 30 out-of-province firefighters have been secured.
Major wildfires have been largely spreading in the Prairies, where Manitoba has extended its second province-wide state of emergency this summer. On July 10, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew had to reinstate a province-wide state of emergency after it was lifted on June 23.
In Saskatchewan, large swaths of the province remain evacuated. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared a province-wide state of emergency on May 29 and has maintained it ever since because of the huge number of out of control wildfires, 16 as of August 23, with 45 active wildfires. Saskatchewan is the province with the largest burned area, with close to 2.9 million hectares of the boreal forest gone up in smoke since the beginning of the year.
Wildfires have occurred in May, June, July and August in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan where Indigenous communities reside. Therefore it is they who have suffered the most.
The largest fire in the Prairies is the Shoe fire, in Saskatchewan, where 565,000 hectares of boreal forest have been burning since May 7. This led to multiple communities being evacuated at the end of May. The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation had an evacuation order for more than 1,800 residents of Pelican Narrows, 400 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. In the northern community of Hall Lake, more than 380 people from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band had to leave.
East Trout Lake Wildfire, Saskatchewan.
Alberta has recorded 986 wildfires in 2025, with 48 still active. In comparison, the entire 2024 season saw 1,094 wildfires. The record was the 2021 season with a peak of 1,132 wildfires. Close to 687,000 hectares have been consumed by wildfires. One fire located in the northwest part of the province is out of control and has already consumed 4,300 hectares in an area made up of very dry timber.
In British Columbia, a wildfire is burning out of control near Mount Underwood on Vancouver Island, 15-20 kilometres south of Port Alberni. It has already consumed more than 3,600 hectares of forest. Many out of control wildfires are also present in the northeastern part of the province, in the Prince George-Fort Nelson area. The biggest one, located 75 kilometres northeast of Fort Nelson, has burned more than 280,000 hectares of woodland. Another major wildfire located about 50 kilometres northeast of Prince George, near Redfern-Keily Provincial Park, was discovered on May 19 and continues to burn, but is considered under control. It has already consumed close to 150,000 hectares of timber. Other wildfires are active in the Cariboo and Kelowna regions.
Indigenous Peoples Left to Fend for Themselves
On the website of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), under the heading "Wildfire evacuation information for Indigenous peoples," it is stated that since April 2025, there have been "119 wildland fires, resulting in 95 First Nations" impacted and members of 73 First Nations evacuated. As of August 25, there are: "11 First Nations impacted by wildland fires, one in British Columbia, one in Saskatchewan, eight in Manitoba and one" in the Atlantic provinces. There have been "22 First Nations evacuated due to the impacts of wildland fires, five in Alberta, seven in Saskatchewan and 10 in Manitoba." It says that currently "8,240 individuals evacuated from First Nations due to wildland fires."[2] The ISC website ends with instructions in case of an "event of a possible emergency evacuation" such as "When to evacuate" and "Support for evacuees." ISC seems to forget that such a webpage is useless to Indigenous communities, as they do not have proper access to internet and cellular services. These services are presently dominated by large private interests nation-wide whose aim is maximizing profits, not ensuring internet access, which is a modern necessity of life, including for public safety during wildfire season.
In a report published in 2023 by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) entitled "The 'Digital Gap' is growing at a more rapid rate amongst First Nations," the AFN informs that only "20 communities have the three infrastructure elements of fibre backbone, fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) last mile and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Mobility services in place or have funds to put in place." The first report goes to say that "457 First Nation communities across Canada are still without adequate high-speed internet and 363 First Nation communities lack both broadband internet and standard cellular services." The report notes that "Essential services like virtual schooling, online businesses, and digital health care depend on reliable telecommunications infrastructure."[3] One could add "emergency services" as is the case with the 2025 wildfires.
The second report entitled "Prioritization and Implementation Plan," includes "an estimate on the previous report's investment needs and quantifies how the First Nations infrastructure gap will continue to grow by the year 2040 due to Government of Canada inaction and insufficient funding."[4]
International Assistance
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) reports a national preparedness level of 5, meaning that all human and material resources available in Canada are being used on the ground to fight forest fires. Certain provinces such as New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are either at level 5 or 4, thus indicating that the province's resources to fight the forest fires is inadequate and needs assistance from other provinces or countries. (See figure 4)
Figure 4: Wildfire Preparedness Level by province and territory. A level
5 (red) means that the provincial/territorial agency does not have
adequate resources and is therefore unable to assist other agencies. A
level 4 (dark orange) means that the provincial/territorial agency is
requesting additional resources and its ability to assist other agencies
is very limited.
During the 2025 season, Canada has had to call on other countries for assistance, especially for additional firefighters, who are the most qualified needed personnel. The U.S. Forest Service reported last month that more than 600 U.S. firefighters have traveled to Canada this summer to help battle the wildfires, mostly in the prairie provinces and BC. Officials at the CIFFC said crews have also flown in from Mexico, Chile and Australia, among other countries.
In the Parliamentary Committee Notes on the 2023 Canadian Wildfires,[5] the worst season on record, it was noted that close to 230,000 people were evacuated from their homes during the 2023 fire season, while "support by the federal government and NGOs has been provided to 73 First Nations communities," revealing the extent at which Indigenous communities are the most affected by wildfires. In his presentation before the Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) at that time, Harjit Sajjan, then President of the King's Privy Council of Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, reminded his audience that while over 16,000 firefighters helped fight the 2023 wildfires, assisted by over 5,000 international firefighters, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel were also called upon.
Still, the Minister of Emergency Preparedness didn't see the need to have military personnel and equipment trained and deployed on a permanent basis in a wildfire situation. Sajjan said at that time in his presentation to the NDDN that the issue was "to extend the funding towards a humanitarian workforce" made out of civilians, thus "ultimately, Mr. Chair, reducing the reliance on the Canadian Armed Forces in disaster response." Sajjan's notion of public security seems in tune with Mark Carney's government vision of "national security": project Canada's military personnel and equipment on the international scene that will answer the U.S./NATO military ambitions, such as for the Indo-Pacific region, while leaving it up to provincial and territorial civil protection agencies to deal with recurring annual wildfires.
In its review of the 2023 wildfire season in Canada, the CIFFC concluded that "the needs anticipated will undoubtedly increase with the changing climate." A few years ago, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers held a series of dialogues aimed at devising a national wildland fire prevention and mitigation strategy. A 2022 report already noted that participants offered a consistent message: "Stable investment on a significant scale" was needed to address wildfires in the vast boreal forest of Canada.
All these reports have been handed in to the federal government authorities which still refuse to put forward an effective nationwide plan to deal with the needed human resources and modern equipment to adequately fight wildfires all across the country. It seems the Carney government has something else in mind when it comes to the critical infrastructure needed in this country. It thinks that by doling out money when emergency situations arrive such as this year's wildfires, this will somehow give Canadians a sense that their security is being looked after.
All of this begs the question: In 2025, why are provincial wildfire protection agencies still lacking the necessary firefighting personnel and aircraft equipment, as witnessed again this season?
Notes
1. See "Government Irresponsibility in Response to Climate Crisis and Private Interests," Workers' Forum, August 23, 2023
2. "Wildfire evacuation information for Indigenous peoples," Indigenous Services Canada
3. "Closing the Infrastructure Gap 2030 -- The National Cost Estimate," Indigenous Services Canada, March 2023, page 16
4. "Closing the Infrastructure Gap by 2030 -- The Prioritization and Implementation Plan," Indigenous Services Canada and Assembly of First Nations, July 2023
5. "Parliamentary Committee Notes: Canadian Wildfires," Public Safety Canada, November 23, 2023
(With Information from the Government of Canada, Wildfire Provincial Agencies, CIFFC, Assembly of First Nations, CBC, Globe and Mail)
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Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca