Ontario Construction News staff writer
GERALDTON – The Ontario government is putting $61.8 million into upgrading Geraldton’s main thoroughfare, in what officials are calling the first physical step toward building a road network to the Ring of Fire.
Construction is set to begin this fall on a five-kilometre stretch connecting Highway 11, part of the Trans-Canada Highway, to Highway 584. The investment, announced Sept. 10 during the Building Together: Indigenous Business and the Infrastructure Opportunity Conference in Toronto, was described as a “watershed moment” by Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation Minister Greg Rickford.
“This is more than a roadworks project — it’s a signal that Geraldton is a gateway to one of Ontario’s greatest assets in the face of economic threats from the United States,” Rickford said. “With First Nations and communities as integral leaders in these projects, our government is ensuring partnerships remain a central piece of our commitment to unlocking the Ring of Fire.”
It’s being called “the first major physical step in the development” of the “Corridor to Prosperity.”
The Ring of Fire, a 5,000-square-kilometre mineral-rich area in the James Bay Lowlands, contains deposits of nickel, copper, platinum and chromite. The Ford government says building all-season, reliable road access is critical to supporting First Nations, creating jobs, and establishing a secure supply chain for Ontario’s clean-energy industries.
Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce called it a “generational opportunity” to create jobs and strengthen Canada’s critical minerals sector.
Municipality of Greenstone Mayor James McPherson welcomed the announcement, saying the project will “revitalize our downtown, improve safety, and drive development along the Corridor to Prosperity in our region.”
Ontario says it is consulting with Indigenous communities that may be affected and points to its Shared Prosperity Agreement with Aroland First Nation as part of its broader approach to ensuring First Nations benefit directly from critical minerals development.