TORONTO — Marten Falls First Nation has submitted a crucial environmental assessment for a proposed all-season access road linking its remote northern Ontario community to the provincial highway network, marking a significant milestone in efforts to unlock the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region.
In a statement released Thursday, Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and minister responsible for Ring of Fire partnerships, praised the submission as a step toward construction as early as this summer.
“On behalf of Premier Ford and the Government of Ontario, I sincerely congratulate Marten Falls First Nation on submitting the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Marten Falls Community Access Road. With the submission of the EA and Ontario’s signing of the cooperation agreement with the federal government, we remain on track to get shovels in the ground on this project as soon as August 2026,” Rickford said.
The proposed Marten Falls Community Access Road would provide the fly-in First Nation, located about 400 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, with permanent road access for the first time. The community currently relies on air transportation and seasonal winter roads, which can limit mobility, increase living costs, and restrict economic development opportunities.
Rickford said the road is expected to provide both immediate and long-term benefits to residents and the broader regional economy.
“The proposed Marten Falls Community Access Road would connect Marten Falls First Nation to Ontario’s provincial highway network, increasing access, helping foster current and future economic development opportunities as well as improving quality of life for community members. We are continuing to build on our Community Partnership Agreement with Marten Falls First Nation to unlock the Ring of Fire while advancing shared priorities and developing legacy infrastructure and community supports,” he said.
The environmental assessment submission represents a regulatory milestone, allowing provincial and federal authorities to review potential environmental, social, and cultural impacts before granting final approvals. Environmental assessments are required for major infrastructure projects in Canada, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions and areas involving Indigenous lands.
The road is also considered foundational infrastructure for broader development of the Ring of Fire, a vast area believed to hold significant deposits of critical minerals including chromite, nickel, copper and platinum. These minerals are increasingly sought after for use in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing.
Ontario’s government has positioned the region as a strategic economic priority, citing its potential to support the province’s mining sector and supply chains tied to the global energy transition.
Rickford emphasized the projected economic impact in his statement.
“With the potential to add $22 billion and 70,000 jobs to Ontario’s economy, the Ring of Fire is a multi-generational opportunity that could provide better access to social and health services, create economic and training opportunities, improve food security and reduce the cost of living for First Nations and Northern Ontario communities. In lockstep with First Nations, we are creating the conditions for meaningful employment and economic opportunities spanning generations,” he said.
The Ontario government has signed agreements with both the federal government and First Nations partners to advance infrastructure planning in the region, though development has faced delays over the past decade due to regulatory hurdles, infrastructure gaps, and concerns raised by Indigenous communities and environmental groups.
Marten Falls First Nation has taken a leadership role in proposing and co-developing key access routes, including both the community access road and other planned transportation corridors intended to connect mining sites to the provincial highway system.
Rickford said the province will continue to work directly with Marten Falls leadership as the project advances.
“We look forward to working alongside Chief Bruce Achneepineskum and all the community members of Marten Falls First Nation as we continue our government-to-government partnership and shared goals of providing reliable year-round access to the community, while addressing community priorities and advancing economic reconciliation.”
The project reflects a broader push by Ontario, under Premier Doug Ford, to accelerate resource development in northern regions while pursuing economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities through partnership agreements and infrastructure investments.
If approved, the Marten Falls Community Access Road could serve as a catalyst for further development in the Ring of Fire, potentially reshaping northern Ontario’s economic landscape while addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges faced by remote First Nations.
Regulatory review timelines and final approvals will determine whether construction can begin as early as August 2026, as projected by the province.