Ontario’s premier visited Marten Falls on Monday to tout progress they say they’re making on roads to the Ring of Fire mineral zone.
Doug Ford was joined on his latest trip to the far north by two of his senior ministers — Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford (who is also responsible for Ring of Fire-area partnerships) and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.
This visit, according to a provincial government media release, was to celebrate construction starting on the Marten Falls Community Access Road — “another historic milestone” in the Progressive Conservative government’s plan to develop all-season land access into mineral-rich deposits in the James Bay lowlands through a series of road projects being led by First Nations.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Marten Falls First Nation,” Chief Bruce Achneepineskum was quoted as saying in the province’s release, adding that the community will benefit through more reliable access to health care, education, other essential services and reducing barriers to growth.
He also said it will allow for more affordable goods locally.
Mining critical minerals from the Ring of Fire has been championed by the Ford government as crucial in securing Ontario’s economic independence.
