Ontario is preparing to begin construction on a road leading to the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region, with the province investing nearly $62 million to rebuild segments of roadway in Geraldton, Ont. Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford said the project will serve as the southern gateway to the eventual road connecting Highway 11 to Highway 584, capable of supporting heavy truck traffic tied to mining operations.
Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney have both championed mining the Ring of Fire — located 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay — as a key part of Canada’s response to escalating trade tensions with the United States. The area is believed to contain significant deposits of critical and base minerals, essential for clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
The project is intended to link with three additional roads under environmental review that would connect Webequie First Nation and Marten Falls First Nation, currently fly-in or winter-road communities, to the provincial highway system and future mining sites. Rickford emphasized the importance of local partnerships, saying, “This is more than a roadworks project, it’s a signal that Geraldton is a gateway to one of Ontario’s greatest assets… With First Nations and communities as integral leaders, our government is ensuring partnerships remain central to unlocking the Ring of Fire.”
The initiative follows the Ford government’s controversial Bill 5, which accelerates major projects and allows for “special economic zones” where some provincial and municipal laws can be suspended. Ford has said the Ring of Fire could be the first such zone, though it has not yet been declared. The legislation sparked backlash from many First Nations who criticized the lack of consultation and warned it infringed on treaty rights. The government has since pledged it will not proceed without meaningful engagement.
The Geraldton road contract is expected to go to tender soon, with construction slated to begin in the spring.