We have recently submitted a letter to the federal government to urge them to commit to physical infrastructure funding for Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire resource development opportunity.
Significant steps have been taken in Ontario to set the stage for future development of this resource- rich region. In November 2014, the Government of Ontario announced the creation of a development corporation to oversee the development and maintenance of Ring of Fire infrastructure. In April 2014, the provincial government and the Matawa member First Nations Chiefs signed a regional framework agreement to guide future negotiations regarding Ring of Fire development. The Ring of Fire has also been a prominent election issue in Ontario, with all parties committing to the development of this critical region.
To date, the federal government has been active in supporting economic development in the region. We are encouraged by the federal government’s $5.9 million investment in the Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance, which provides people from the Matawa First Nations with the skills and training necessary to capitalize on future mining developments. We also recognize the numerous other contributions to economic development that the federal government has made through programs such as the Northern Ontario Development Program and the Community Futures Program.
To sustain the momentum of these federal and provincial actions, the Ring of Fire requires a more substantial federal contribution. We urge the federal government to match provincial commitments towards the development of physical infrastructure in the region.
Honourable Greg Rickford
Minister of Natural Resources, Minister for FedNor
Suite 159, East Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON,
K1A 0A6
Minister Rickford,
We are writing to urge the federal government to commit to physical infrastructure funding for northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire resource development opportunity. We request a meeting with you to discuss how we can capitalize on this opportunity.
During the past six months, significant steps have been taken in Ontario to set the stage for future development of this resource-rich region. In November, the Government of Ontario announced the creation of a development corporation to oversee the development and maintenance of Ring of Fire infrastructure.
In April, the provincial government and the Matawa member First Nations Chiefs signed a regional framework agreement to guide future negotiations regarding Ring of Fire development. The Ring of Fire has also been a prominent election issue, with all parties committing to the development of this critical region.
To date, the federal government has been active in supporting economic development in the region. We are encouraged by
the federal government’s $5.9 million investment in the Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance, which provides people from the Matawa First Nations with the skills and training necessary to capitalize on future mining developments. We also recognize the numerous other contributions to economic development that the federal government has made through programs such as the Northern Ontario Development Program and the Community Futures Program.
To sustain the momentum of these federal and provincial actions, the Ring of Fire requires a more substantial federal
contribution. We urge the federal government to match provincial commitments towards the development of physical
infrastructure in the region.
WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY?
In our recent report, Beneath the Surface: Uncovering the Economic Potential of Ontario’s Ring of Fire, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) conducted an economic impact analysis of the development of the region based on known mineral deposits. We found that, within ten years, development of the Ring of Fire will generate over $9 billion in economic activity and sustain 5,500 jobs annually. Over the long-term, these benefits will grow considerably: within 32 years, over $25 billion in economic activity is projected to be generated. These benefits will accrue to many sectors of the economy.
For the rest of this letter, click here: http://www.occ.ca/Documents/ROFLetter_June25_online.pdf