Two of the country’s largest consulting firms have been selected to complete an environmental assessment for an all-season road in the Ring of Fire.

SNC-Lavalin and Dillon Consulting were selected for the work through a competitive bid process run by community road proponents Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation.

The proposed road, also known as the Northern Road Link, will run 200 kilometres between Marten Falls and Webequie Supply Road. The Webequie road, in turn, connects Webequie Airport to the McFaulds Lake area. In so doing, the road will link the two remote First Nations and connect them to emerging mining sites in the Ring of Fire area.

"The proposed Northern Road Link is a highly sensitive project that requires the most rigorous studies related to environmental, water, climate change and cumulative effects,” said Chief Cornelius Wabasse of Webequie First Nation. “Given their previous studies done in Ontario Far North, SNC-Lavalin and Dillon Consulting are familiar with community principles when it comes to economic development, and we look forward to working collaboratively to generate the EA information to make an informed decision."

An agreement was announced in March 2020 between Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations and the Ontario government to proceed with the planning and development of the Northern Road Link. The proposed infrastructure project is considered to be critical to future economic development in the north.

"This road is an economic lifeline for our communities and it will bring jobs, training and prosperity where our youth currently have no opportunities. Our communities are also committed to a community directed process that responsibly studies the impacts and opportunities for road development in our traditional territory,” said Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation. “We look forward to working with SNC-Lavalin and Dillon Consulting to collect and study the information we need to make the best decisions."

The environmental assessment report will be completed to meet both the federal and provincial environmental assessment requirements under a coordinated process pursuant to the Impact Assessment Act and Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

The environmental assessment studies are expected to take at least three years to complete.