August 21st, 2017

Statement from Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath on the Ring of Fire

“Ontario families, especially northern and Indigenous communities, are tired of waiting for the Ring of Fire. I understand why today is yet another frustrating day for them.

Months after Kathleen Wynne said she was trying to reach a deal with nine First Nations to move forward in agreement – particularly to start on the road into the region – Wynne announced Monday that she has only reached a deal with three of those First Nations. That disappointment follows 14 years of Liberal government during which not one shovel has hit the ground. Not one kilometre of road has been built.

This spring, Wynne moved Ontario further away from unlocking the Ring of Fire by refusing to include any mention, nor a single dollar to move the project forward, in the provincial budget. And the Conservatives aren’t the answer – they want to cut the budget, not make real investments.

This is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I want to build the infrastructure that is needed to spark the Ring of Fire. I want to unlock the thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity this project promises. And I want to do it right, ensuring we respect Indigenous nations in the region as partners. Unlike Wynne and the Conservatives, I understand the urgency. There are people hurting because of the shortage of good jobs in their home community – jobs they can raise a family on. It doesn’t have to be this way. With a new government – one willing to take the Ring of Fire off the backburner and make it a priority – we will see action quickly.”