The provincial government and two First Nations partners announced on March 2 that they had signed an historic agreement to start the process for planning and developing critical road infrastructure in Northern Ontario.

Premier Doug Ford was joined at the signing ceremony by Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation, and Chief Cornelius Wabasse of Webequie First Nation.

The agreement is a critical first step toward building reliable, all-season road access to potential mine sites in the province’s Ring of Fire, and to connecting First Nation communities to Ontario's provincial highway network. The Northern Road Link, as it is known, would connect to the proposed Marten Falls Community Access Road at the south end and to the proposed Webequie Supply Road at the north end.

It is not yet known how much the road will cost to build, nor when construction will start.

"After 15 years of delay by the previous government, we said we would build a road to the Ring of Fire, and we are working with our incredible partners in the Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation to do just that and make sure we do it right," said Ford.

The all-season road project would also improve access to health and social services and put in place improved infrastructure, such as high-speed Internet and reliable cellular service for the First Nations and other communities nearby. Modern broadband infrastructure is sorely lacking in most rural and remote regions of the province. Access to better internet services will provide these communities with improved access to social, health, education and training resources as well as support economic development opportunities, including Ring of Fire development.

The province announced an investment of $30 million in October 2019 to provide modern and scalable telecommunication services to five Matawa-member communities: Nibinamik, Neskantaga, Eabametoong, Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations.

Under the terms of the agreement signed earlier this week, the respective First Nations will advance environmental assessments for their all-season road projects, and initiate the planning and development of the proposed Northern Road Link. Both First Nations are firm in their resolve to meet all regulatory requirements and fulfil their role as environmental stewards using traditional knowledge to guide business and environmental decision making.

"We look forward to working together with Ontario to ensure the sustainable development of our ancestral territories," said Chief Achneepineskum. "Marten Falls First Nation takes seriously our right to make decisions for the betterment of our community. We are moving ahead with this agreement so all communities in the region can connect to the next phase, which is to secure and bring good-paying jobs in mining, construction and other skilled trades to our communities."

"Webequie First Nation supports responsible development in our territory," added Chief Wabasse. "We have been working together with Ontario for many years to reach this point. We believe that road development will help bring prosperity to communities across the region and better infrastructure - both on and off-reserve. We understand that road development will impact our traditional territories but believe this is a positive step forward to unlocking new opportunities that will benefit all surrounding First Nation communities."

Current estimates on the Ring of Fire, located approximately 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and covering about 5,000 square kilometres, suggest multi-generational potential for chromite production, as well as production of nickel, copper and platinum.