YE OF LITTLE FAITH FNC.04

The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, April 20, edition that Chinese engineers are endorsing a planned rail line to Northern Ontario's Ring of Fire and say the project could open the door to Chinese bids on other Canadian rail projects. The Globe's Bill Curry writes that the planned $2-billion rail line, if approved, to the Ring of Fire mineral deposits would mark the first time that a Chinese rail company plays a major role in rail construction in Canada. China's state-owned rail companies are aggressively eyeing international expansion, particularly in the area of high-speed commuter rail. Senior engineer Zhu Lizheng is upbeat on the potential of building a north-south rail line about 340 kilometres long that would connect the Ring of Fire to an existing Canadian National Railway line near Nakina, Ont. Mr. Zhu and eight other engineers were on Parliament Hill Tuesday, along with officials from KWG Resources, to talk to MPs about KWG's proposal to build the rail line using engineering expertise and long-term financing from China. In addition to financing, the project would also require approval from Ottawa, Ontario and area first nations.