Toronto: The Ontario government has signed a community partnership agreement with Webequie First Nation, committing up to $39.5 million to support both local development and progress on key road projects tied to the Ring of Fire — a mineral-rich region in northwestern Ontario expected to power Canada’s EV battery industry.
Premier Doug Ford announced the deal Wednesday at Queen’s Park, calling it a major step toward unlocking the region’s critical minerals, which he said could add $22 billion to Canada’s economy and create 70,000 jobs.
The agreement supports the Webequie Supply Road, an all-season road connecting the First Nation to the Ring of Fire. It’s one of several routes planned to improve access, along with the Northern Road Link Project, which will connect Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations to the mining hub via the Attawapiskat River.
Funding Supports Community Priorities
Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse said the funds will also strengthen the community’s infrastructure and well-being.
“We look forward to working together and ensuring our communities prosper,” Wabasse said. “This funding will support mental health, rebuild our airport damaged by fire, and create opportunities for economic growth.”
Webequie has led its own environmental assessment for the supply road, set to be submitted to the province in January. Ford said he wants construction to begin by spring 2026, though the project remains subject to a federal impact assessment, which he criticized as “duplication.”
“We need Ottawa to end its redundant review and let our First Nations partners move forward,” Ford said.
Broader Infrastructure Push
The deal follows the province’s $61.8 million investment in Geraldton’s Main Street Rehabilitation Project, described as a “gateway to the Ring of Fire.” Ford framed the new partnership as evidence of momentum.
“We can no longer work at government speed,” he said. “This shows what’s possible when we work together.”
Balancing Development and Autonomy
While some First Nations leaders have criticized the province’s Bill 5 — legislation that could fast-track development by designating the Ring of Fire a special economic zone — Wabasse emphasized that this partnership reflects progress.
“We want to practise self-autonomy,” he said. “We want to have a say in what’s going to happen. For too long, we weren’t heard — now we’re moving forward.”
Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, said responses to Bill 5 have been “curious if not positive,” though he acknowledged achieving consensus among 133 First Nations remains challenging.
The Ring of Fire, a vast mineral deposit in the James Bay lowlands, has long been viewed as vital to Ontario’s transition to a green economy. With this agreement, Ford’s government is signaling that development — and collaboration — are moving ahead.
