Leaders of the major Ontario political parties wasted no time in responding to claims by the Liberals that a breakthrough has been reached with First Nations communities to build the roads necessary to service and access the Ring of Fire mineral development in northern Ontario.
“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,” is Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath’s take on the government’s announcement.
Howarth’s main contention is that the Premier had only reached a deal with three of the nine First Nations in the region, adding that in 14 years of Liberal rule in Ontario, “not one kilometre of road has been built.”
Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown gives the opinion that the Ring of Fire has never been a priority for Wynne and previous Liberal governments and that the proximity of the election is playing a role in the announcement.
“They announced funding for the Ring of Fire for three budgets in a row, but this was just window dressing,” added Brown.
