Consultations continue as 2 First Nations work toward road to Ring of Fire in northern Ontario

A project that would create a direct route between the provincial highway network and the lucrative Ring of Fire mineral deposit in northern Ontario is making headway.

Led by Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation, the Northern Road Link project would connect two other proposed roads: the 200 kilometre Marten Falls First Nation Community Access Road at the south end, and the 110 kilometre Webequie Supply Road to the Ring of Fire at the north end.

A series of public consultations are happening in the next few weeks as part of a co-ordinated provincial environmental assessment and federal impact assessment process.

The project reached a few key milestones this year:

On Tuesday, project co-ordinators held a media briefing at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont., before inviting Indigenous community members to an open house to learn more about the Northern Road Link.

"It's a unique project because it is being led by First Nations as the lead proponents, and it's one of the first of its kind to be conducted this way," said Stephanie Ash, public relations officer for the Northern Road Link project.

The project hasn't come without controversy though, with some First Nations people criticizing development around the Ring of Fire as a threat to their traditional ways of life.

The Northern Road Link is estimated to be between 117 to 164 kilometres long – depending on the final chosen route – and cross the Attawapiskat River. Experts from AtkinsRéalis, formerly SNC Lavalin, and Dillon Consulting will be available at the open houses to answer questions and gather feedback.

"We want to make sure that we're always providing forums for engagement where people are not necessarily just in the First Nations themselves, but where people are actually living their lives and being active," said Ash. "So we do both; we are in the communities as well as in the cities."

The Northern Road Link is being touted as a critical lifeline. For prospectors, it would provide a pathway to minerals needed to build the electric vehicle batteries that are hoped to fuel Canada's green economy. For Webequie and Marten Falls, it's hoped to bring wide-scale economic development and better access to goods and services.

But it's complicated. There's been pushback surrounding mining in the Ring of Fire and how the government is handling consultations with Indigenous communities, with recent rallies led by members of the First Nations Land Defence Alliance at Queen's Park.

Qasim Saddique, co-lead of the Northern Road Link project on behalf of Marten Falls, said efforts are being made to connect with neighbouring First Nations on their terms.

"This is Marten Falls and Webequie's priority. It might not be a neighbouring community's priority, so we try to work with them on their schedule and wait for availability for them to participate in the process when it suits them. We are willing and able to show up at any community at a time of their choosing," said Saddique.

"If it's virtual that's preferred, we want to do that. If it's in person, we're absolutely going to be there depending on their invitation."