Billions of dollars of investment will be needed, including spending on highways and energy infrastructure. The new group is meant to go beyond the government’s legal duty to consult with First Nations and ensure that indigenous people secure jobs and economic prosperity from any development near their communities, Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs, said in an interview.
The group was formed after indigenous leaders told the provincial government they wanted to be part of the opportunity created by the Stellantis plant, Rickford said. Currently, it doesn’t include corporate representatives from any other companies, but it lays the foundation for broader involvement, he said.
“Our government has demonstrated a capacity to do these large-scale projects differently,” he said.
Asked if the indigenous members of the group would have veto power, should they object to a project, Rickford said he would not…
