TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government has signed a deal with another First Nations community to allow a road that will provide eventual access to the mineral-rich Ring of Fire area.
“Countries and businesses around the world are competing for these critical minerals, and Ontario has what the world needs,” Ford said at a news conference with officials from Marten Falls First Nation Thursday.
“Unlocking and refining critical minerals here in Ontario will add $22 billion to our economy, create 70,000 new jobs and protect our province’s economy.”
Marten Falls First Nation is about 430 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, Ont. The community currently has limited access to the outside world, with no year-round road
The deal will provide up to $39.5 million for important community infrastructure, as well as supporting the construction and planning of the Marten Falls Community Access Road (MFCAR), which would create a permanent link to communities to the south.
Ford said the deal will be “transformational for Northern and First Nations communities,” by creating jobs and economic opportunities.
Bob Baxter, a councillor for Marten Falls First Nation, spoke ahead of Ford Thursday and said his community welcomes the deal.
“This development creates immense potential, from reliable access to medical services to new opportunities for training, education and wellness,” Baxter said. “For the first time, we will experience true freedom of movement, and we are looking forward to the future this opens up for our community.”
Chief Bruce Achneepineskum said the deal will see all homes in his community linked to fibre internet in about a year, but they have other needs that still need to be met.
“We need to play catch up in other areas in our community,” he said. “The wastewater system is not up to grade and also the diesel generation system we’re on right now is not sufficient.”
He called on the federal government to help the community in those areas.
The deal follows another agreement announced about a month ago with the Webequie First Nation to build another road to provide access to the region.
The province says the agreement will see Marten Falls First Nation will submit an environmental assessment by February 20, 2026, on an expedited basis.
Ford said the roadwork could then start in August if the federal government agrees to streamline the approvals process with First Nations.
He also called on the federal government to provide more funding for the community.
“Let’s get some money so that they can pave the runway. Get money so that we have a proper wastewater system. We’ll support them,” Ford said.
He added: “I just want to make sure the federal government remembers we’re 40 per cent of the population, and we have incredible First Nations communities that need their help.”
The province also announced Thursday that it is providing $2 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to help the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre build an Indigenous community centre in Thunder Bay.
The Ford government has repeatedly said that taking advantage of critical minerals in the Ring of Fire is a key point of their plan to bolster the province’s economy in the face of U.S. tariff threats.
Information released by Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office this week confirm those tariffs have continued to weigh down on Ontario’s economy, with Real GDP declining by 0.6 percent in the second quarter of 2025 – the largest drop since the 2008-2009 recession, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic.
