Ontario has announced another step toward development of the Ring of Fire mining development.
The province said today Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations revealed they will be submitting a Terms of Reference document for the proposed environmental assessment for Northern Road Link to that part of Northwestern Ontario.
The proposal for an all-season road to the remote Marten Falls area is regarded as "the final piece of critical road infrastructure" to connect several remote communities and the Ring of Fire mining area to the Ontario highway network.
The Ring of Fire area is the name for a massive group of chromite, copper and nickel mining properties located about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.
One of the key discussions that has been underway for the past few years has been the need for an overland road link, connecting the Ring of Fire to the rest of Ontario.
Although the mineral properties were discovered 15 years ago (August 2007), no mines have been developed as the various groups involved have been involved in attracting investors, having environmental discussions, and negotiating agreements with First Nations.
The environmental assessment announcement was made jointly Thursday morning by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford, along with Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation and Chief Cornelius Wabasse of Webequie First Nation.
The premier's news release said the announcement was "to celebrate a historic milestone to unlocking jobs and economic opportunities in the Ring of Fire region."
