Ontario is planning to build a road as part of its pledge to mine the Ring of Fire region, but many see the provincial government’s ambitions as an existential threat to their way of life
On a rock-covered beach in the heart of the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, Alex Moonias gazes east, then north. All he sees is undisturbed land, water and air.
The survivor of a residential school and, later, alcohol addiction, has heard government promises of prosperity related to developing the territory before. And he’s not convinced. The province and federal government have together committed billions to deals inked with auto giants Volkswagen and Stellantis to build EV battery plants in southern Ontario. In Ford’s vision, the metals supplying those plants would come from northern Ontario and head south for refining and processing.Two of those First Nations – Webequie and Marten Falls – are leading an environmental assessment on a proposed road to the Ring of Fire.
A state of emergency declared in 2013 over a rash of suicides remains in place. Opioids are an emerging worry, while alcohol still finds its way inside the dry reserve.It means a high school in the community, he says. It means clean drinking water, good jobs, a paved airport runway that would allow bigger planes in and better access to doctors and nurses.Outside a home for elders, George Sakanee fiddles with a new metal detector. He loves hunting for metallic rocks.
“Building a road into our territory will cause changes and we’re obviously really worried about that.”About 150 kilometres southeast lies Marten Falls First Nation, which is taking a different approach. Marten Falls and Webequie First Nation are leading the road’s required provincial environmental assessment, which Achneepineskum says will not be complete until 2026.
Marten Falls has been under a boil-water advisory for 17 years, so fixing the water problems is paramount, the chief says. The community also needs more housing and better health care. The province is coming off two big – and expensive – wins in service of that goal by landing, with Ottawa, deals with Volkswagen and Stellantis for electric vehicle battery plants in southern Ontario.
The ministers believe the development will spur socio-economic change within northern Ontario First Nations. And, of course, be crucial to Ontario’s plans to become an EV battery powerhouse. Ottawa wants to develop a domestic source of critical minerals, but it believes many other mining projects across the country are closer to realization.
In 2007, nickel, copper and platinum metal deposits were discovered at the site. Nickel is a key component of electric vehicle batteries, accounting for roughly 80 per cent of one, says Straub, who came to the company in the spring. For any of that to work, the company needs a road to haul out the metals it extracts. And it needs collaboration with First Nations, he says.
“Our ask back to the government and to the other First Nations is that while we respect your opinion, that we don’t get stopped in terms of the exploration work or the engineering work.”
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Read more »
Inside the battle over the Ring of FireOn a rock-covered beach in the heart of the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, Alex Moonias gazes east, then north. All he sees is undisturbed land, water and air.
Read more »
‘We want to be able to decide’: Inside the battle over the Ring of FireOn a rock-covered beach in the heart of the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, Alex Moonias gazes east, then north. All he sees is undisturbed land, water and air.
Read more »
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