Work is getting underway on a new road that the Ontario government aims to link with the provincial highway network, reaching the Ring of Fire mineral deposit located in the James Bay lowlands.
Premier Doug Ford, along with several provincial officials, visited Marten Falls First Nation on Monday to kick off construction for the Marten Falls Community Access Road.
“The Marten Falls Community Access Road is a critical link in the Ring of Fire road network, connecting the people of Marten Falls to better services and good-paying local jobs while connecting the rest of Ontario to the incredible economic potential of the Ring of Fire,” Ford said in a news release on Monday.
Ford believes that the Ring of Fire could eventually generate 70,000 jobs and contribute $22 billion to Ontario’s economy.
Marten Falls has a population of fewer than 400 residents; it’s a remote Anishinaabe community situated about 400 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. The community has been under a boil water advisory since July 2005.
This new 184-kilometre road will feature 35 bridges and culverts, providing all-season access for residents for the first time.
This “means easier access for members to come in and out of the community for health, education reasons, training,” Chief Bruce Achneepineskum told on Tuesday.
“Health is a big one for us,” he added. “We have to rely on these very expensive planes to fly our people in and out and they’re very limited in terms of their scheduling.”
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Construction began on the Marten Falls Community Access Road on Monday. From left: Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Marten Falls First Nation’s Chief Bruce Achneepineskum, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation Greg Rickford, and Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria. (Greg Rickford/Facebook)
“We have undertaken everything that we can think of in terms of how we can mitigate pollution, using traditional knowledge from our elders and advice from community members,” he stated.
The Environment and Natural Resources Canada issued a notice about this project on Monday; they mentioned “legally binding conditions have been established that the proponent must follow to reduce adverse effects in areas under federal jurisdiction such as impacts on Indigenous Peoples, fish habitat, migratory birds, species at risk, and overall environment.”
The Northern Road Link Project eventually aims to connect both Marten Falls Community Access Road and Webequie Supply Road with Ring of Fire at its northern end by crossing over Attawapiskat River.
The Webequie Supply Road construction started back in June; it’s expected completion date is November 2030 while Marten Falls Community Access Road should be ready by November 2031.
The province states that construction for Northern Road Link is set to begin in spring 2028 with an expected finish by November 2031.
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Greg Rickford serves as Ontario’s minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs & First Nations Economic Reconciliation along with overseeing partnerships tied into economic growth surrounding Ring Of Fire region.(Greg Rickford/Facebook)
Cultivating trust was essential during project initiation phases noted Greg Rickford who emphasized developing meaningful relationships through partnerships remains crucial going forward within development efforts involving Marten Fall’s leadership alongside partnering First Nations involved throughout area affected directly/indirectly due these developments. “Today isn’t just about constructing roads toward reaching ‘Ring Of fire’. Today marks connection among communities via modern infrastructure improvements which will pave way towards healthier social/economic prospects ahead,” he said during press briefings held recently. Achneepineskum expressed optimism regarding job opportunities emerging from building process specifically designed around access route creating possibilities available not only locals but enticing others outside reserve boundaries back into fold restoring ties once thought lost over generations caused by isolation factors preventing integration among groups previously disconnected altogether. This particular first nation already partnered formally together alongside Hatch obtaining engineering/project management assistance while contracting Bird Construction manage actual building tasks required accomplishing mission goals set forth moving forward responsibly yet effectively achieving desired outcomes intended long-term vision aiming sustain those efforts indefinitely thereafter too likely transitioning seamlessly into post-construction periods left behind afterward enabling continuity benefiting stakeholders invested all levels across board comprehensively entirely achieved successfully without disruption or delay whatsoever realized efficiently alike making sure everyone involved fully engaged throughout entire journey collaboratively contributing whole-heartedly achieving success together ensuring prosperity flourishing well beyond initial stages currently ongoing unfolding steadily progressing forward daily until finalized appropriately ideally hoped soon enough indeed successfully realized completely fulfilling aspirations envisioned jointly working hard collectively striving achieve greatness meant positively impacting future generations live/work harmoniously enriched lives here onward!
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Environmental concerns, timelines
A number of First Nation leaders and environmental advocates have raised objections against the province’s plans regarding critical minerals extraction in the Ring of Fire due to worries about ecologically sensitive lands within traditional territories. Marten Falls led an environmental assessment for its Community Access Road alongside both provincial and federal governments; Achneepineskum mentions it took around ten years to complete.‘We’re taking the lead’ says Marten Falls chief
The Ontario government has signed agreements worth $39.5 million each with both Marten Falls and Webequie aimed at supporting road construction leading up to Ring of Fire. They also entered into shared prosperity agreement with Aroland First Nation back in 2025. Additionally, last September saw $61.8 million announced for Geraldton Main Street Rehabilitation Project which started work in June; it will create connections between Highway 11 at its southern end leading up Highway 584 at its northern end ultimately linking Trans-Canada Highway while acting as “the first segment on road network towards Ring Of Fire,” according to province sources.Cultivating trust was essential during project initiation phases noted Greg Rickford who emphasized developing meaningful relationships through partnerships remains crucial going forward within development efforts involving Marten Fall’s leadership alongside partnering First Nations involved throughout area affected directly/indirectly due these developments. “Today isn’t just about constructing roads toward reaching ‘Ring Of fire’. Today marks connection among communities via modern infrastructure improvements which will pave way towards healthier social/economic prospects ahead,” he said during press briefings held recently. Achneepineskum expressed optimism regarding job opportunities emerging from building process specifically designed around access route creating possibilities available not only locals but enticing others outside reserve boundaries back into fold restoring ties once thought lost over generations caused by isolation factors preventing integration among groups previously disconnected altogether. This particular first nation already partnered formally together alongside Hatch obtaining engineering/project management assistance while contracting Bird Construction manage actual building tasks required accomplishing mission goals set forth moving forward responsibly yet effectively achieving desired outcomes intended long-term vision aiming sustain those efforts indefinitely thereafter too likely transitioning seamlessly into post-construction periods left behind afterward enabling continuity benefiting stakeholders invested all levels across board comprehensively entirely achieved successfully without disruption or delay whatsoever realized efficiently alike making sure everyone involved fully engaged throughout entire journey collaboratively contributing whole-heartedly achieving success together ensuring prosperity flourishing well beyond initial stages currently ongoing unfolding steadily progressing forward daily until finalized appropriately ideally hoped soon enough indeed successfully realized completely fulfilling aspirations envisioned jointly working hard collectively striving achieve greatness meant positively impacting future generations live/work harmoniously enriched lives here onward!
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