Premier Ford's James Bay deep-sea port plan faces backlash over feasibility, lack of Indigenous input

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is seeking Prime Minister Mark Carney's support for his idea to build a deep-sea port on James Bay, but critics argue the proposal is unrealistic and are condemning the lack of Indigenous consultation.

At a meeting in March, Carney asked premiers to identify "nation-building projects."  In May, Ford penned a letter to Carney, outlining the projects he wants the federal government to prioritize and believes would be "transformational for Canada's economy."

As well as a new deep-sea port, those project ideas include accessing critical minerals in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, creating new nuclear power plants, expanding the GO Transit Network and developing a tunnel under Highway 401 through Toronto.

Sudbury New Democrat MPP Jamie West said he believes the deep-sea port project is tied to the extraction of critical minerals in the Ring of Fire, which is about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

"The idea would be that it's cheaper to transport goods through the seaport than it would be to transport by rail or by road. And so I think that's that opportunity," West said. 

He explained that in the 1950s, there was a call for a study of a potential seaport in the northern Ontario community of Moosonee, but the idea remained dormant until Ford recently revived the concept. 

'Out of nowhere'

Similar to the other proposals on Ford's federal wish list, West said not much is known about the deep-sea port project. 

"This is sort of like how the tunnel under the 401 just sort of showed up out of nowhere," he said. "In terms of moving forward and spending money to fortify Canada, you need more than an idea."

Prior to asking for federal funding, West said, the province should have conducted a feasibility study to determine the project's viability and outline methods to mitigate environmental impacts during development. 

"A seaport we know is not practical, and [the province] should know that," says Lawrence Martin, director of lands and resources for the Mushkegowuk Council, which represents seven First Nations in northern Ontario. 

Martin said he feels the proposal for the port was "just thrown out there."

He said recent land and water studies, part of an ongoing effort to designate the James Bay coast a national marine conservation area, prove a deep-sea port is not feasible due to insufficient water depth. 

"We've been able to determine through the studies that the water is not there for a seaport." 

Despite using an over 19-metre-long (64-foot) vessel with a relatively shallow four-metre (12-foot) draft, the ship was unable to approach the shore near Moose Factory for an event and had to be anchored 20 kilometres offshore. 

He said smaller boats had to be used in order to transport people to shore.

"From my perspective, it doesn't make sense geography wise," Martin said.

Climate change is another consideration when it comes to any deep-sea port project, as water levels recede and the land rises, according to Martin.

"For the government to come and say, 'We want to build a seaport here,' well good luck — you sure don't have enough water." 

Building a port in the area would require dredging to make the river deeper, which would lead to environmental repercussions, said Martin. 

When asked for details on the proposed location of the port, the premier's office said in an email, "We are in the early stages of the proposal and will have more to say at a later time."

As of late Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister's Office had not responded to CBC's request for comment.

Ford proposals following passing of controversial bill

Ford's letter of proposals to Carney was followed by the passing of Bill 5, known as the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. This controversial legislation allows the province to establish special economic zones where specific companies or projects can be exempt from provincial laws, regulations and municipal bylaws.

The premier has pitched Bill 5 as a way of bolstering Ontario's economy in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, by speeding up major infrastructure and resource projects.

But West said he believes Bill 5 will actually lead to a delay in development of projects on First Nation territory due to the lack of Indigenous consultation. 

"The problem with Bill 5 is the same problem since 2018 when Doug Ford was elected — there isn't any consultation with First Nations," West said, pointing to past comments from the premier about building a road to the Ring of Fire. 

At a news conference last week, Ford said he's willing to give First Nations what they want for their support in developing mines, but they cannot "keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government" for more money.

The premier apologized for his remarks the following day. 

"He just off the cuff talked about his opinions of what First Nations mean in northern Ontario, and it's insulting… that isn't how you do business," West said. 

"Mining companies, extraction companies, who are trying new business, who are trying to build relationships and have the consent and consultation, the premier of our province keeps setting back those relationships and frustrating the possibility of the success going forward."

I'm disappointed that we're not at the table. We are the hub for the whole James Bay and Hudson Bay area, and we seem to be the last to know of anything.- Wayne Taipale, Moosonee mayor

Martin believes the province needs to engage with First Nation communities about infrastructure projects in order to include them in discussions, provide opportunities to share practical local knowledge and ensure development does not disrupt or damage sensitive environmental areas.

"Nobody's really come forward to have a discussion with anybody, with Mushkegowuk Council, or even the chiefs and councils in the communities. Nobody from the province or from Canada has come forward with it," he said.  

"They've only been seemingly talking amongst themselves about the idea."

Moose Cree First Nation Chief Peter Wesley said the community had been feeling their relationship with the province was "on a good path" until they saw the passing of Bill 5, and are now proceeding with caution.

He emphasized simply declaring a project will happen is not an acceptable way to work with Indigenous communities, and it goes against the spirit of collaborative and respectful project development.

"For someone to try to do something from down south, who's never been north of Barrie, for example. How can you really understand the dynamics of the territory that we live in, the technical system that we live in?" 

Wesley highlighted a successful past collaboration with Agnico Eagle, a Canadian gold mining company, in which they worked together to ensure all parties were satisfied with the project. 

Vic Fedeli, Ontario's minister of economic Development, job creation and trade, did not respond to requests for comment. 

'Work with us instead of against us'

Moosonee Mayor Wayne Taipale said the town's community has also been left out of any discussions surrounding the potential port. 

"I'm disappointed that we're not at the table," Taipale said. "We are the hub for the whole James Bay and Hudson Bay area, and we seem to be the last to know of anything." 

Taipale also thinks the port proposal is tied to the mining of the Ring of Fire, something he said he's neither for nor against as long as there's proper consultation with First Nations and neighbouring communities.

"I believe there's another option, and I've always said that, is to build a railway from the Ring of Fire to Attawapiskat to Moosonee." 

He feels that a railway, owned by First Nations in the region, would be more profitable and less damaging to the environment. 

"There has to be consultation with all First Nations in the area and there has to be consultation with the Town of Moosonee as well. And if they are going through the back door, it's going to be hard to get anything moving forward," Taipale said. "Work with us instead of against us."