Ontario has filed legislation on Thursday which, according to her, will accelerate the development of mines by designating certain “special economic zones”, although Prime Minister Doug Ford said that this could also be used on other projects.
The Ring of Fire, a massive zone in northern Ontario which would be filled with critical minerals, will be one of these economic zones. But Ford said that other major projects could receive similar designations, including its plan to build a transit and a massive traffic tunnel under highway 401.
First Nations have already expressed their concern about the wish of the province of Acid The development of the Ring of Fire.
The need to urgently extract the province is a direct response to the threats of US President Donald Trump, Ford said.
“President Trump wants to destroy our economy, remove jobs from Ontarians and Canadians, and we have to get up and fight as we have never fought before,” said Ford. “We cannot be taken in administrative formalities and regulations and Dilly-Dally.”
Ford envisages massive mining operations in the North to extract critical soil minerals, refine these minerals from the province, then use them for the booming electric vehicle battery industry in southern Ontario. But now he also wants to sell these critical minerals around the world.
He thinks that the mining of critical minerals will lead to prosperity for all Ontarians.
“We are going to move forward, let’s create economic growth through the province,” he said. “We will be the richest, richest, most prosperous and safest competence in the world.”
Ford said special economic areas are not limited to mining operations.
It could be “everything we see Economic opportunity: Build a tunnel, for example, along 401, or any other infrastructure project that creates opportunities and economic development, “said Ford.
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Another example could be a pipeline, he said. Ford wants to see oil and gas pipelines cross the province and the country.
“Let’s adapt things. Make sure this pipeline is finished. Make sure it gets out of Irving or goes to Sarnia or everywhere,” said Ford.
The plan to accelerate the development of the Ring of Fire has already aroused the resistance of many First Nations communities which have constantly reminded the province of its duty to consult them.
Ontario leaders called on Prime Minister this week to ensure that new mining legislation does not encourage the rights of the First Nations people.
“We fear that this legislation may have an impact directly or indirectly on the way in which mining companies interact with the inherent, treated and constitutional rights inherent in the First Nations. “We urge the province and industry to work with First Nations as a full partners from the start, nothing less is unacceptable and could lead to prolonged delay and loss of opportunity.”
Three First Nations – Marten Falls, Webequie and Aroland – signed agreements with the province to help develop the Ring of Fire, although several others in the region have not done so. Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations also direct environmental assessments on three proposed roads that would link the mine to the two communities and the three to the provincial road system.
Ford said the obligation to consult First Nations remains.
When he was asked how he convinced the other First Nations to sign development agreements, he said that prosperity coming to these three communities would lead others to join.
“All the other First Nations will watch and say:” My boy, they thrive, they have electricity while we are still in diesel, they have the capacity to provide much faster health care, they have the capacity to provide fresh fruit that is not frozen, “said Ford.
Sol Mamakwa, which represents the conduct of Kiiwetinoong where the Ring of Fire and many First Nations are located, said that the government’s current approach to consultations is “the strict minimum”.
“And it’s not good enough,” said Mamakwa, a solitary member of Queen’s Park.
The legislation is good news for the company that builds the site of the Eagle nest mine in the Ring of Fire region and says that it treats more than 19 ministries to obtain various approvals and permit.
“It will certainly help at speed,” said Kristan Straub, CEO of Wyloo Canada, an arm of the Australian mining giant. “Some permits are fulfilled in a sequential way, which means that if you have 10 to go, instead of doing 10 at the same time, they occur one after the other, which draws the process.”
Site surveillance remains, as is the duty of the mine to consult the indigenous peoples, said Straub.
The legislation will remove the company’s obligation to carry out an environmental assessment of the proposed road access because the First Nations stage similar assessments, said Straub.
Political attitudes towards mining feel different from a year ago, he said, with a renewed thrust of the provincial government and promises of promises by Mark Carney, the conservative leader Pierre Hairy during the federal electoral campaign to rationalize and accelerate mining and energy projects.
“From a provincial point of view, I cannot think of a better time in the history of this project by having a partner disposed to the provincial government and the First Nations with which we work,” said Straub.
The officials claim that the new bill will remove several other environmental assessments, including one of the discharges offered in southwest Ontario.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press