|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Ontario is ripping up an agreement with First Nations on building road access to the Ring of Fire region in favour of pursuing individual deals with the nine communities, saying the move will speed up development of the mining project.
Greg Rickford, the minister in charge of the file, announced on Tuesday that the new approach will mean the government can address specific community needs and opportunities with First Nation communities.
The previous Liberal government had signed a regional framework agreement in 2014 with nine First Nations in the region. In 2017, then-premier Kathleen Wynne warned that she would move to bilateral talks if there was no progress on an overall deal and signed agreements with three of the nine communities.
The Progressive Conservatives said they were hitting the reset button on the negotiations entirely.
“Despite over a decade of talk and more than $20-million invested, real progress on the Ring of Fire has been met with delay after delay,” Mr. Rickford said in a statement. “That’s why Ontario is taking a new, pragmatic approach to unlocking the Ring of Fire’s potential, one that includes working directly with willing First Nation partners.”
A key part of the project is the construction of roads between the Matawa First Nations, the provincial highway network and the Ring of Fire.
[…]
See Also:
(1) #RingOfFire (#RoF) News – August 27, 2019
(2) Beer and wine in subway newsstand shops?
(3) It’s perfectly reasonable to give Ontario teachers a math test
(4) Watching pennies adds up: Ford government
(5) ‘Delisting’ medical services underscores ability to tailor care
