Federal government plans for a regional assessment of Ring of Fire potential development

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The federal government is in the preliminary stages of drafting terms of reference for a regional assessment for the potential development of a mineral-rich area of Northern Ontario, known as the Ring of Fire.

In response to three letters expressing interest in an assessment, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, wrote that he concurs with the merits of conducting a regional assessment in the Ring of Fire district.

The letters were from Aroland First Nation band councillor Sheldon Atlookan, Dr. Cheryl Chetkiewicz of the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada, and Dayna Nadine Scott of the Osgoode Hall Law School and Faculty of Environmental Studies.

Wilkinson cited a number of reasons for supporting an assessment, including:

  • A regional assessment could inform future project-specific federal impact assessments and other decisions
  • Anticipated development has the potential to cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction, including cumulative effects, in the area
  • There are opportunities to collaborate with the province of Ontario and to involve indigenous groups, non-government organizations, and others in the planning and conduct of a regional assessment
  • There is the potential for impacts, including cumulative impacts, to the rights of Indigenous people in the area
  • The Ring of Fire is within Treaty 9 territory and is home to about 24,000 First Nations people. Anticipated development in the area will impact Aboriginal and treaty rights, traditional lands and resources, social-economic conditions, health and community well-being

He added that the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada has informed him that it anticipates the proposal of road infrastructure, mining development, and other activities that may be the subjects of assessments. A regional assessment would inform and contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of these future impact assessments, he wrote, adding that it would be his plan to conduct a full regional assessment in partnership with the Ontario government.

“As a first step, I have instructed agency officials to meet with you (the letter writers) to discuss appropriate activities, outcomes and spatial and temporal boundaries for the regional assessment (which will) involve Indigenous groups and non-government organizations.”

The results of these measures are to be reported back to him by the fall of 2020.

Current estimates on the Ring of Fire, located approximately 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and covering about 5,000 square kilometres, suggest multi-generational potential for chromite production, as well as production of nickel, copper and platinum.

Development of the area moved a bit closer recently following an agreement between the Province, Marten Falls First Nation, and Webequie First Nation, to advance the planning and development of a proposed Northern Road Link. If the road is built, it would provide a reliable, year-round access to potential mine sites, as well as connecting First Nation communities to Ontario’s provincial highway network.

“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. Together, we can bring jobs and prosperity to communities across the Far North,” said Premier Doug Ford when announcing the agreement.

The project would also connect Northern communities to health and social services and provide improved infrastructure, such as high-speed Internet and reliable cellular service, for the First Nations and other communities nearby, says the Province. The Northern Road Link would connect to the proposed Marten Falls Community Access Road at the south end of the region, and to the proposed Webequie Supply Road at the north end.

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