The province is involving First Nations in the the extraction of natural resources.

That’s the response from the Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford to charges the province is allowing more mining exploration permits.

“In many instances, in fact all of our resource revenue sharing agreements, reflect participation from Indigenous leadership in the responsible management of those resources,” Rickford told MPP’s during Question Period on Wednesday.

“So we want to continue down that course.  We think that provides a balanced, fair way for Indigenous communities.”

Rickford adds that in most case First Nation communities are the beneficiary of the creation of the mines and other resource extraction industries.

“Many, if not most the communities represented here today, and I can tell you they all want better infrastructure, they all, for the most part want road access to improve health, social, and economic opportunities for their communities.”

Earlier in the day leadership from Grassy Narrows, Muskrat Dam, Neskantaga and kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) First Nations, came to Queen’s Park demanding the government reign in the number of mining exploration permits that are approved.