A helicopter moves equipment fuel between work sites near the Ring of Fire mineral deposit in the James Bay lowlands of northern Ontario in October, 2025.Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
Construction on the all-season road network to the Ring of Fire, a project that Ontario has long championed as crucial to its critical-minerals ambitions, will begin in June and be complete by 2031, Premier Doug Ford said Monday.
The project is being fast-tracked and is five years ahead of schedule, Mr. Ford told a press conference at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association conference in Toronto.
There are currently no mining operations in the Ring of Fire, but exploratory work and plans for a nickel mine are under way.
Four roads will be either built or updated to connect the crescent-shaped Ring of Fire to the provincial highway network. The Ring of Fire is located 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and is home to deposits of chromite, nickel, copper, platinum, gold and zinc.
“The front lines in our fight to build a more competitive economy is found on mining sites across Ontario,” Mr. Ford said. He said the project has the potential to create 70,000 jobs and add $22-billion to Ontario’s economy over the next 30 years.
“The mining sector is critical to Ontario and Canada’s economic future. Together, we’re realizing its full potential.”
Ontario, Ottawa to sign deal to cut red tape for major projects, speed up Ring of Fire road
Chief Lorraine Whitehead of Webequie First Nation and Chief Bruce Achneepineskum from Marten Falls First Nation each signed joint statements of economic partnership with the province after the announcement.
The First Nations have been given roughly $40-million each for work to build the roads and fund further economic activities tied to the mineral sector, including skills training for potential jobs in the industry and the financing of other businesses connected to the mines. Currently, the Webequie community can only be reached by air or via a winter road that is becoming less reliable as climate change shortens the season.
“For the Webequie, this is about self determination,” Ms. Whitehead said. “The Webequie must be at the centre of leading and benefiting from economic growth. Our youth matter. What we do today will impact their lives and the future generations.”
The Webequie Supply Road is scheduled to start construction in June, the first of the four projects, and open four years ahead of schedule in November, 2030.
Construction on the Marten Falls Community Access Road is scheduled to start in August.
The two other road projects – upgrades to the Anaconda and Painter Lake Roads and building the Northern Road Link – are scheduled to open in November, 2030, and 2031, respectively.
Northern Ontario chiefs step up demands for consultation in resource projects
“We’re going to get five years ahead on a project that has been spoken about for a generation,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, in an interview with The Globe and Mail after the announcement. “... We have cascading infrastructure coming online to connect the dots east, west, north and south to move people, commodities, resources and infrastructure.”
In September, the province announced $61.8-million for Geraldton’s Main Street Rehabilitation Project which will connect Highway 11 in the south of Ontario to Highway 584 at the north, thereby connecting the Trans-Canada Highway and acting as the first segment on the road network to the Ring of Fire.
In January, the province also committed $70-million to a 230-kilometre transmission line serving the region, to be designed and constructed by Hydro One.
To date the federal government has not committed funds to the project. Ontario has requested Ottawa at least match the province’s stake of $1-billion.
Mr. Ford said he is “very confident” an official agreement with the federal government will be signed soon, adding that he hopes it will happen in the next month.
In December, Ottawa and Ontario signed an agreement that effectively means any project previously subject to impact assessments for both the federal and provincial government would now only be subject to Ontario’s environmental assessment process.
Marten Falls and Webequie submitted environmental assessments for the roads serving their community last year.
Last week the federal government decided against an impact assessment for the Eagle’s Nest mine project – a nickel mine owned by Australia mining giant Wyloo. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada decided other mechanisms – including mechanisms under Ontario’s Mining Act – would be able to sufficiently assess the environmental implications of the project, The Canadian Press reported.
“The feds have an opportunity,” Mr. Lecce said. “They’ve already reduced the red tape and duplicative assessment timelines. Now they need to deliver the cash.”
Wyloo and Canadian junior miner Juno Corp. own the majority of the over 40,000 claims staked in the Ring of Fire. Teck Resources and the Canadian Chrome Company hold a number of claims too.
Several First Nations have pushed back against mining projects in the region, including Webequie’s neighbouring nation, Neskantaga. The 400-person community is concerned about the impact of mining activity on the surrounding environment, especially the Attawapiskat River and its tributaries.
The Globe and Mail reached out to the Neskantaga First Nation for comment on the expedited road construction timeline but did not hear back before publication deadline.