The province has approved the terms of reference for a road into the Ring of Fire mineral deposit in Northwestern Ontario. They were drawn up by the Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations, west of James Bay.
Announcement of the approval was made by mines minister George Pirie, at the annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC).
“The First Nations-led road projects would connect the two communities joining us here today to the Ontario highway network and critical minerals in the Ring of Fire,” Pirie told a news conference.
Pirie paid tribute to the First Nations for leading the environmental assessment for the all-season, multi-use road corridor.
“I respect and admire your vision to improve your communities for youth and the future generations of your people,” he said.
Among the minerals the provincial government considers essential are nickel for electric cars, and chromite for clean steel.
