In an effort to speed up development in the mineral-rich Ring of Fire, the Ontario government has signed a community partnership agreement with Webequie First Nation.
The Ring of Fire, a crescent-shaped mineral deposit in the James Bay lowlands in northwestern Ontario, has long been eyed as a critical source for the province’s electric vehicle (EV) battery industry.
According to Premier Doug Ford, unlocking these critical minerals “will add $22 billion to Canada’s economy and create 70,000 new jobs,” he said during a news conference at Queen’s Park on Wednesday.
The province has been working closely with both Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations to encourage development there through key road projects including:
The community partnership agreement with Webequie also comes with up to $39.5 million for the First Nation.
Besides materials and equipment for the supply road’s construction, Chief Cornelius Wabasse said the money will be used to support mental health initiatives, a new sports facility and upgrades at the community’s airport, which was severely damaged in a fire earlier this year.
“We look forward to working together and moving on with what we have and making sure that our communities will prosper in the near future,” said Wabasse, “and that we address some of the issues that we have at our community level, including the well-being and also being able to have opportunities and economic development for our First Nations.”
Webequie First Nation led its own environmental assessment for the supply road project. It will be submitted to the province in January.
While Ford said he wants to see construction on the road start by next spring, the project is also subject to an impact assessment under Canada’s Impact Assessment Act — which he calls “federal duplication.”
“We need the federal government to end its impact assessment in the Ring of Fire, which [is] only duplicating the amazing work of our First Nations partners and slowing down getting shovels in the ground,” Ford said.
Last month, the province announced $61.8 million for Geraldton’s Main Street Rehabilitation Project, which the government describes as “a critical road infrastructure project in Greenstone that will be the gateway to the Ring of Fire.”
“We can no longer work at government speed, not when President [Donald] Trump is taking direct aim at our workers and economy,” Ford said on Wednesday. “Today’s agreement is proof of what we can accomplish when we work together.”
Development in the Ring of Fire region has come under heavy criticism by several First Nation leaders and environmental advocates, particularly when it comes to consultations with affected communities.
The First Nations Land Defence Alliance has held multiple rallies outside Queen’s Park criticizing the government’s approach. Members have also been involved in provincial pushback over Bill 5, legislation that aims to fast-track development and designate the Ring of Fire as a special economic zone.
Within these zones, the province would be able to exempt any company or project from having to comply with whichever provincial laws, provincial regulations or municipal bylaws the government chooses.
Greg Rickford is Ontario’s minister of Indigenous affairs and First Nations economic reconciliation, and minister responsible for Ring of Fire economic and community partnerships.
During Wednesday’s announcement with Webequie, when asked about how consultations on Bill 5 are going, Rickford said the legislation has “been generally well received.”
“Obviously, it’s very difficult to get consensus around these things from 133 different First Nations communities, but I can say that the response has been at least curious if not positive about some of the key projects that communities want to have, where Bill 5 may be able to support that and facilitate those projects coming to fruition.”
In his opening remarks, Wabasse stressed the importance of communities being able “to have that trust with the government in the agreements we have.”
“We want to practise self-autonomy. We want to have the say to what’s going to happen,” he said. “A lot of times, we were not heard, and this is the moment that we’re moving forward.”
