Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation says Ontario should repeal housing plan, leave Greenbelt alone

Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN)is asking Ontario to repeal its new, controversial housing legislation and stop its proposedchanges to the Greenbelt.

TheMore Homes Built Faster Act also known as Bill 23 has faced heavy criticism from people who say itwill overridelocal planning powers, limit the ability of municipalitiesability to collect development charges and reducepublic input on development.

The legislation is part of Premier Doug Ford's plan to build housing across Ontario, which some, such as Hamilton Progressive Conservative MPP Donna Skelly, have applauded, sayingurbandensification won't do enough to solve the housing crisis.

The MCFN letter, published online on Dec. 12, saysthe province has a legal obligation to consult with Indigenous communities when its actions impact treaty rights but the first nation says it hasn't been consulted.

It also says the changes will have "adverse impacts" on treaty rights, land claims, the environment, planning and archeology within the first nation's territory.

The legislationaims tobuild at least 50,000 new homes on more than a dozen tracts of land now intheGreenbelt, whileadding roughly2,000 acresof protectedland elsewhere.

The letter said the province may be contravening the its "duty to consult and accommodate" and the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), among other things.

"We have a responsibility to protect this land for our next seven generations," reads the letter."This act is putting thatobligation at risk."

Earlier this year, MCFNsharedconcernsabout how Ontario was accelerating land development, in particular through the use of Minister's Zoning Orders,while neglecting MCFN'sconstitutionally protected right to know and offer feedback about buildingplans.

Province 'committed' to completeduty to consult

Conrad Spezowka, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said in an email the government is taking a"balanced approach" to help municipalities'splans to grow while also protecting the environment.

"We continue to respect Aboriginal and treaty rights which are protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and are committed to meeting our constitutional obligations to consult with Indigenous communities,"Spezowkawrote to CBC Hamilton.

"The government is committed to fulfilling its duty to consult and is focused on creating meaningful relationship with Indigenous communities and partners as we look to advance prosperity for all Ontarians."

Stacey Laforme,the Gimaa (Chief) of MCFN,said he isn't satisfied with that response, saying there needs to be "genuine outreach and dialogue."

"We need to have a better method of dialoguing with the province of Ontario ... we've been after that for a while," he said.

Laforme saidBill 23, along with plans to build Highway 413, leave him "very concerned."

"I understand we need places to grow and we need housing, but we should've learned by now that can't come at the expense of the environment," he told CBC Hamilton.

"If the government wants to work with us throughout our treaty lands and look at options or exploring on how we protect the environment at the same time we look at growth,we're open to that."

Hamilton urban Indigenous leaders weigh in

This also comes after severalurban Indigenous leadersmet with Hamilton city councillorsMondayto discuss numerous issues, including the new housing bill and changes to the Greenbelt.

Hamilton Community Legal Clinic's Indigenous justice coordinator Lyndon George, also known asNaWalka Geeshy Meegwun-LongFeather, said the Indigenous community has a responsibility to protect the wildlife within the Greenbelt.

He said while the community knows how to "shut down highways and keep those bulldozers from coming in," George also said governments building relationships with Indigenous communities is the way to protect that wildlife.

Audrey Davis, Hamilton Regional Indian Centre's executive director, said the province doesn't need to open up the Greenbelt, pointing to unused land in the city.

"It's dumbfounding we sit on our territories and don't have land," she said.

"We are more than on board to work with any developer to get housing in there or better yet, let it be Indigenous owned and operated."

CBC Hamilton also reached out to SixNations elected council and theHaudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council for comment but did not hear back before deadline.