NEWS RELEASE
MICHAEL MANTHA, NDP NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINES CRITIC
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With the announcement that Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is likely selling off its huge chromite deposit in the Ring of Fire, it’s now official that the much heralded Ring of Fire development is in deep trouble.
For over three years, the NDP has been calling on the Liberal government to take a leadership role in creating a real plan that will benefit job creation in the North.
Instead they are sitting on the sidelines watching as investment dollars and good jobs leave the province.
The estimated $60-billion deposits in chromium and other minerals were hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Cliffs Resources spoke optimistically of thousands of jobs, a smelter near Sudbury and a start date of 2017.
Last year Cliffs halted all activity citing lack of leadership from the government and failure to create a development plan for the companies and First Nations to work together.
Today we hear they are looking to exit the Ring of Fire all together.
And there is absolutely no guarantee that Cliffs’ land will be bought by KWG Resources or any other mining company.
New Democrats and I have been repeatedly calling out the Liberal government for misleading the people of Ontario with the promise of fictitious jobs and failing to create a real plan for the Ring of Fire; a development plan that benefits Northern communities, First Nations and Ontarians.
In order to salvage this huge economic opportunity for the province, there needs to be immediate action on infrastructure, revenue sharing agreements, and other unresolved issues blocking the development.
Unfortunately, the Liberal government seems to be content to stand on the sidelines while this once-in-a-generation opportunity fades away.
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