Ring of Fire a ‘legacy project’: Minister – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – August 17, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper

Ottawa remains committed to helping develop the so-called Ring of Fire, but it will do so carefully, the government’s Northern Ontario cabinet minister said in Sudbury on Friday.

Greg Rick-ford, Canada’s new science and technology minister, made the promise during his first visit to Sud-bury since taking on the title.

Rickford, who is also responsible for FedNor and the Ring of Fire, spent two days in Greater Sudbury, making a funding announcement at NORC AT and a speech to the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.  The visit is part of a Northern Ontario tour that included visits to Thunder Bay and North Bay.

During both local stops, he affirmed the federal government’s commitment to pushing forward on the Ring of Fire — but carefully.  “I fully expect that we will begin a process of thorough consultation,” Rickford, the MP for Kenora, said Friday morning, shor tly before announcing funding for jobs for recent graduates. 

Rickford emphasized “what I call the politics of collaboration — pushing par tisan politics aside and making sure we’re focusing on FedNor and the Ring of Fire. (These are) the things that make a difference in people’s lives and improve our for tunes here in Nor thern Ontario.”

The $350,000 will go to create 13 jobs in Greater Sudbury and across the region.

“Our government is working hard and committed to ensuring that local businesses and communities right here in Sudbury, and across Northern Ontario, have the tools and the resources in place to help them flourish and grow,” the minister said.

“That’s where FedNor comes in — delivering programs that support innovation, economic development, business growth and innovation, and, of course, economic development initiatives (geared to) certain regions across Northern Ontario.”

Speaking to reporters after the presentation, Rickford said he remains positive about the future of the Ring of Fire, a vast, mineral rich area of northwestern Ontario.

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