Construction has commenced on a new road envisioned by the Ontario government to link the provincial highway system with the Ring of Fire mineral deposit in the James Bay lowlands. Premier Doug Ford and a group of provincial officials visited Marten Falls First Nation to mark the beginning of the Marten Falls Community Access Road project. This road is seen as a vital component of the broader Ring of Fire road network, aiming to enhance services and employment opportunities for Marten Falls residents while unlocking the economic potential of the Ring of Fire for the entire province.
Ford envisions the Ring of Fire as a catalyst for creating 70,000 jobs and injecting $22 billion into Ontario’s economy. Marten Falls, home to fewer than 400 individuals and situated approximately 400 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay, has been grappling with a boil water advisory since July 2005.
The Marten Falls Community Access Road, spanning 184 kilometers and featuring 35 bridges and culverts, will grant the community year-round road access for the first time. Chief Bruce Achneepineskum highlighted the road’s significance in facilitating easier travel for community members seeking health services, education, and training opportunities, particularly noting the current reliance on costly and limited air transportation options.
Despite the project’s potential benefits, concerns have been raised by several First Nation leaders and environmental advocates regarding the extraction of critical minerals in the ecologically sensitive lands of the Ring of Fire. Marten Falls led the environmental assessment process for the Community Access Road in collaboration with provincial and federal authorities, a decade-long effort focused on implementing pollution mitigation measures informed by traditional knowledge and community input.
Federal authorities have issued specific conditions to minimize adverse impacts related to the project, emphasizing considerations such as Indigenous Peoples, wildlife habitats, and environmental preservation. The long-term vision includes linking the Marten Falls Community Access Road and the Webequie Supply Road to the Ring of Fire, with construction already underway on the latter and expected completion by November 2030. The Marten Falls road is slated to open by November 2031, with the broader Northern Road Link Project scheduled to commence in 2028, aiming for completion by November 2031.
The Ontario government has solidified agreements totaling $39.5 million with Marten Falls and Webequie to support road construction efforts in the Ring of Fire region, alongside a shared prosperity agreement signed with Aroland First Nation. Additionally, a major investment of $61.8 million has been allocated for the Geraldton Main Street Rehabilitation Project, a crucial segment in the road network towards the Ring of Fire.
Greg Rickford, serving as Ontario’s minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, emphasized the importance of fostering trust and collaboration in advancing shared prosperity initiatives within the region. Achneepineskum emphasized the project’s potential to create job opportunities for Marten Falls members and engage off-reserve community members in the development process, highlighting partnerships with engineering and construction firms to drive the project forward.
In Achneepineskum’s words, the community is taking a proactive role in all aspects of development within its territory, aiming to empower its members through employment opportunities, access to essential services, and overall community growth.