Province updates Memorandum with Ring of Fire First Nation

Ontario has signed an updated Memorandum of Co-operation with Webequie First Nation to work together to realize the many benefits from mineral development in the Ring of Fire, according to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.

The Memorandum of Co-operation, signed during a visit to Webequie by MNDM Minister Rick Bartolucci, MPP for Sudbury, commits the province to work with Webequie to advance discussions with the federal government to ensure communities are prepared to fully participate in Ring of Fire developments.

The First Nation is located on the northern peninsula of Eastwood Island on Winisk Lake, 540 km north of the Thunder Bay. Webequie is the closest community to the discovery areas in the Ring of Fire and has more than 700 community members.

Ontario is also committed to providing Webequie with social, community and economic development supports and resource revenue sharing associated with Ring of Fire developments, according to a press release. Ontario and Webequie First Nation will also work together on regional environmental monitoring and regional infrastructure planning.

The Memorandum of Co-operation highlights the need to develop a strong working relationship between the First Nations and the Ontario government on the potential impact of proposed development on their traditional territories. It also builds on a previous Memorandum of Co-operation signed in 2004 committing to help strengthen community foundations and bring prosperity to Ontario's Far North.

The Ring of Fire, located approximately 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, represents one of the most significant mineral deposits Ontario has seen in more than a century, with multi-generational mineral production opportunities on a scale similar to historic world-class mining areas, such as Timmins, Sudbury, Kirkland Lake and Red Lake.

Posted by Arron Pickard