Lack of Ring of Fire Progress Startling: Fedeli

NORTH BAY – The Wynne government is misleading Ontarians with claims of any progress when it comes to the Ring of Fire mining development in Northern Ontario, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said today.

Fedeli made his fourth trip into the Ring of Fire yesterday, the same time that news emerged that one of the major players in the Ring of Fire is slashing its capital spending this year. “Virtually no progress has been seen on the ground there since I was there last,” said Fedeli, who noted the government admitted today that it still hasn’t formed a Ring of Fire Development Corporation despite announcing it more than three months ago. Among Fedeli’s findings were:

•  Noront Resources is ready to start development on its nickel deposits, but is being held back by the provincial government’s lack of action on transportation infrastructure.

 

•  There’s no exploration currently under way because there’s still no way to get ore to market

 

•   The reduction in activity in has resulted in severe layoffs among mining supply companies in Northern Ontario

Fedeli also used the occasion to look for opportunities for the Ontario Northland Railway to help develop the Ring of Fire. “As the mines develop, there’s no question the best way to ship ore is by rail,” said Fedeli. In contrast to six years of the McGuinty-Wynne government’s inaction on the file, the Ontario PCs have put out a Northern White Paper which lays out a real plan for the Ring of Fire, and just recently launched the Million Jobs plan to get Ontario back on track, added Fedeli. “The Northern Development Minister loves to talk about the Ring of Fire, but the reality that I’ve witnessed first-hand proves that it’s only talk.  He’s desperate to tell a good news story where there is none,” Fedeli said. “It’s time to change the team that leads this province, and light up the Ring of Fire.”