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THUNDER BAY — Michael Gravelle says he is encouraged after a “positive” first formal meeting regarding the Ring of Fire with the federal Minister of Natural Resources.
The provincial Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Greg Rickford met last week in Ottawa where the two discussed the significance of the proposed northern mining development and the importance of the two senior levels of government to work together to make it a reality.
The ministers have communicated extensively but had yet to arrange a formal meeting. Gravelle described the sit-down as productive and said Rickford expressed some issues the federal government has had with the process up to this point.
“I think I allayed a number of those concerns in our meeting,” Gravelle said. “I reaffirmed how we think in order for the Ring of Fire to reach its full potential the federal government needs to be involved.”
“I had well over an hour with my deputy minister and senior officials with the Minister of Natural Resources and his senior officials. We agreed to actually have more formal discussions with our senior ministry and departmental staff.”
One topic of conversation during the meeting was the province’s development corporation, which was launched last summer to spur the project. Rickford has publicly voiced concern about the development corporation and reiterated his stance during the meeting.
Gravelle maintains the body is a “delivery agency” for funding towards the project and allows all stakeholders to be fully invested in the decision making process.
“He had questions about whether or not the development corporation was the best model going forward,” he said.
“We view it as key to the partners we have such as the federal government so they can be part of making those decisions. I also made it clear we’re open to discussions, whether it’s with First Nations as to whether or not the development corporation model needs to be changed.”
He said Rickford was supportive of the work done by the province to support Noront Resources in their bid to launch their Eagle’s Nest nickel project.
Gravelle also informed the federal representatives that the province intended to seek funding contributions through the Building Canada Fund’s national infrastructure component.
He said the Ring of Fire is more than just a mining opportunity but rather a project of national significance to build the North through improved community access, energy reliance for remote First Nations and expanding broadband availability.
Doing that preparation work will also be beneficial when the chromite projects get underway.
“All of these pieces are so important to the actual overall success of the project,” Gravelle said. “We need to do the right things to be ready for when the major component comes into place.”
A joint media release from the staff of both ministers following the meeting stated “the federal government welcomes new proposals for specific, tangible projects to develop resources in the region” as well as an agreement on the “importance of strong Minister-to-Minister dialogue and cooperation for resource development, the economy and progress with First Nations.”