https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/
Michael Mantha says he’s asked but has yet to receive updates from Minister of Northern Development and Mines
It’s been more than a decade since chromite ore was first found in remote Northern Ontario, yet development of the Ring of Fire mining project seems to be slow. A year ago, the previous Liberal government announced an agreement with three First Nations communities to build a road to the mineral-rich site.
It involves many partners: mining companies, municipalities, First Nations and the provincial government. The new face at the table — the Ford Progressive Conservative government — hasn’t made its intentions clear, said Algoma-Manitoulin MPP, Michael Mantha. Mantha is also the New Democratic Party critic for Northern Development and Mines.
He says over the years, the other partners have been working to build better relationships with each other. “Industry has done a lot of the work, and First Nations have done a lot of work. It’s time for government to step in now and that they be held to their role in moving some of the development that we want to see happen in Ontario.”
Since the Ford government took office in June, Mantha says he’s tried to get an update on the Ring of Fire project with no success.
“It’s one of the frustrating parts that I’m finding, as a critic who has asked the minister numerous times for a briefing from his ministry to identify some of their priorities, goals,” Mantha said. He adds that First Nations, municipalities, the mining industry, mining and forestry companies are all sitting at the table waiting.
For the rest of this article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/mantha-ring-of-fire-first-nations-1.4886598