The Government of Ontario has entered into an agreement to advance the planning and development of a proposed Northern Road Link to the Ring of Fire.
Premier Doug Ford and Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs, were joined by Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation and Chief Cornelius Wabasse of Webequie First Nation at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention today for a signing ceremony.
"After 15 years of delay by the previous government, we said we would build a road to the Ring of Fire, and we are working with our incredible partners in the Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation to do just that and make sure we do it right," said Ford.
Today's signing marks a new partnership between the government, Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation to advance planning of critical road infrastructure that would provide reliable, all-season road access to potential mine sites and connect First Nation communities to Ontario's provincial highway network.
The all-season road project would also improve access to health and social services and put in place improved infrastructure, such as high-speed Internet and reliable cellular service, for the First Nations and other communities nearby.
"We look forward to working together with Ontario to ensure the sustainable development of our ancestral territories," said Chief Bruce Achneepineskum, Marten Falls First Nation. "Marten Falls First Nation takes seriously our right to make decisions for the betterment of our community. We are moving ahead with this agreement so all communities in the region can connect to the next phase, which is to secure and bring good-paying jobs in mining, construction and other skilled trades to our communities."
The Northern Road Link would connect to the proposed Marten Falls Community Access Road at the south end and to the proposed Webequie Supply Road at the north end.
Will it lessen ONTC opportunities?
"The Ring of Fire is a huge opportunity for the North," Renée Baker, Communications Manager for Ontario Northland told BayToday.
"At this time, the focus of Ontario Northland is on other mining opportunities that are closer in turn. We’ve been successful in the last year getting new customers using rail by providing creative solutions like multimodal hubs throughout the North. When the chromite market grows to a level requiring rail, we have the experience, technology, and capabilities to safely operate and maintain the rail infrastructure in that type of geography and climate."
Meanwhile, Michael Mantha, Official Opposition Critic for Northern Development and Mines isn't impressed.
“The Liberals left office with only three agreements signed with First Nations, out of at least nine that are needed, to get moving on the Ring of Fire. After two years, Doug Ford and his government have managed to rip up those agreements, destroy the regional framework agreement, then get two of nine agreements signed. Three steps backward and two steps forward does not equal progress – at this rate, the Ring of Fire may never be built.”
