Ontario Pushes Forward, but Key Environmental Approvals and First Nations Consultations Remain

Ring of Fire roads move forward, but full completion may take until 2040. First Nations approval remains key.

TORONTO, ON – March 3, 2025 – While Ontario accelerates work on access roads to the Ring of Fire mining region, full completion of the all-season road network is still projected between 2035 and 2040. This extended timeline contrasts with the provincial government’s vision of a strengthened North American supply chain for critical minerals.

Key Environmental Assessments Near Completion

At the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference, project leaders from Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations announced that environmental assessments (EAs) for two major roadways—the Marten Falls access road (190 km) and the Webequie supply road (107 km)—are nearing completion.

• Draft EA reports for the Marten Falls access road were shared with First Nations communities on February 18, initiating a 60-day review before public release on April 22. A final version will be submitted for ministerial approval later this year.
• The Webequie supply road EA is also in the final stages, with community consultation set to begin before its public release.

Michael Fox, Webequie’s consultation leader, emphasized the Indigenous-led nature of the process:

“These are the most extensive, most expensive studies ever done in the region.”

Northern Road Link Faces Delays

The most critical connection—the Northern Road Link, linking Marten Falls to the Ring of Fire—remains years behind schedule. Draft EA reports are not expected until 2029 or 2030, with construction requiring up to a decade.

“Baseline studies are ongoing this year and next,” said project leader Qasim Saddique.

First Nations Consent Still Uncertain

While Marten Falls Chief Bruce Achneepineskum expressed optimism about community support, opposition from Neskantaga First Nation and other regional groups remains a significant hurdle.

During the PDAC conference’s opening prayer, Elder Ed Sackaney criticized the government’s approach:

“The process must include all First Nations—not just select communities.”

Long Road Ahead for the Ring of Fire

With construction of the Webequie supply road expected to take five years and the Northern Road Link possibly requiring a decade, the full road network remains a distant goal. Despite progress, uncertainty over First Nations approval and environmental reviews means the final shape of the Ring of Fire infrastructure is still years away.