Premier Dalton McGuinty is defending his decision to move ahead with northern land development legislation over the objections of First Nations leaders. He says there's been``extensive consultation'' over the Far North Act, which is slated for a final vote later this week.
N-D-P critic Gilles Bisson says the dispute over Bill 191 could jeopardize McGuinty's plans to develop the Ring of Fire chromite deposit near James Bay.
Several First Nations chiefs say McGuinty failed to keep his promise not to pass the legislation without their approval and are warning that they'll use ``any means necessary'' to protect their treaty rights.
