Ontario's Premier Accountability Dashboard · Queen's Park Watch
Abram Benedict
Chiefs of Ontario
Abram Benedict is Ontario Regional Chief of the Chiefs of Ontario. He called Premier Ford's "hat in hand" comments about First Nations "dangerous" and has been a consistent advocate for meaningful Indigenous consultation rights in relation to Bill 5's mining fast-track provisions.
Connected Scandals
The Ford government is fast-tracking Ring of Fire mining and road construction through its Bill 5 "One Project, One Process" system, overriding the objections of Grassy Narrows First Nation — a community still living with mercury poisoning — bypassing a federally required environmental assessment, and pushing toward a June 2026 construction start that Neskantaga and Attawapiskat First Nations are physically blockading.
As Ontario Regional Chief, Benedict was present at the Queen's Park meeting where Ford made his "hat in hand" comments, called them "dangerous," and has represented First Nations interests in advocating against Bill 5's mining fast-track provisions.