QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Natural Resources
Ring of Fire Development
October 9, 2025
Honourable minister, thank you for being with us today. As you know, the Ring of Fire holds enormous potential for Canada’s economic future. It is rich in critical minerals needed to power electric vehicles, renewable technologies and clean-energy industries, yet this potential will remain locked underground without the infrastructure to access it.
Minister, can you tell this chamber what concrete plans your department has to build and fund the roads, power and transportation infrastructure required to connect the Ring of Fire to Ontario’s broader economy?
Thank you for the question. The goal of this government is to attract private sector proponents to build projects. It’s not to spend public money. What we need is private sector proponents to come forward with proposals.
Those proposals need to be constructive when compared to our climate goals, and they need to have the support of the affected First Nations. When proposals come forward around the Ring of Fire that meet those criteria, we will do everything we can to incentivize them if it is a major project.
Additionally, we are negotiating a “one project, one review” very important process that says if the provincial governments have an equivalent process to the federal government’s and they approve a project, the federal government will rely on that. In the case of Ontario, they have the right to negotiate under “one project, one review” and to take the lead there. We would absolutely be constructive if we negotiated under the “one project, one review” and they took the lead on the Ring of Fire.
Thank you, minister. As you know, without physical access, the Ring of Fire will remain a vision on paper. It will remain a promise. Will your government commit to a clear infrastructure road map with timelines, cost-sharing with Ontario and guaranteed inclusion of Indigenous communities — as well as attracting foreign and local investment — so that the Ring of Fire becomes not only a mining project but also a transformative link connecting northern Ontario to opportunities across Canada?
Roads within a province are the responsibility of the province. If Ontario wants to take the lead on a road, propose that coming forward and put up the money, we will absolutely do everything we can to be constructive, but a road is a provincial responsibility.
