Capreol residents lament Cliffs decision

News that Cliffs has indefinitely suspended work on the Ring of Fire project – including plans to build a $1.8 billion refinery near Capreol – has some residents in the area skeptical the project will ever be revived.

“I'm upset about the whole thing,” said resident Dave Levesque. “It would have been great for the community and for jobs, but now we've lost it because of politicians farting around.”

The refinery was originally scheduled to open in 2015, and employ 450 during construction, and a similar number once complete and operations. It would have processed chromite mined from Cliff's Black Thor site, located about 500 kilometres from Thunder Bay.

Estimates of the value of all minerals in the Ring of Fire runs about $60 billion. Dellie Sprega said it's an opportunity that would have had a huge impact on her community.

“It certainly would have helped a lot of young boys find work,” Sprega said. “I feel sorry for Capreol.”

“I'm disappointed, because we need that,” agreed Elaine Nadon, who also lives in the area.