Recap Ontario's Report Card on the Ring of Fire Development Plan Since Election


May 29, 2014

Thank you for your letter,

I am pleased to respond to your letter and respond to your request to pass the Northern Development Corporation Act.

As you know, The Ring of Fire is a tremendous opportunity with incredible potential to unlock economic prosperity within the region, create thousands of jobs and significantly strengthen our economy for years to come.

I know that the future of the Ring of Fire and the future of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) are both issues that resonate with all Northerners. The Ontario Liberal Party is committed to smart, sustainable development in the Ring of Fire in order to help the development thrive. That’s why our budget included a $1 billion investment in infrastructure for this region and why the Ontario Liberals re-committed to making this investment, with or without the Federal Government on May 25th.

(The Ontario government has bungled it's relationship with the federal government to such a degraded point, Kathleen Wynne can't even get 22 minutes with Stephen Harper to talk about Ring of Fire Joint Participation. Harper has asked for the detailed $1B spending ROF plan many times but Ontario can not produce them.)

If returned to government, within 60 days the Ontario Liberals will establish a development corporation that will be responsible for infrastructure development in the Ring of Fire. With Deloitte, the development corporation is currently working on a set of guiding principles and seeking consensus on its next steps.

(Six month later....)



The Ontario Liberals are also committed to transforming the ONTC to create a sustainable transportation system for the North. The Ontario Liberals are open to exploring ways for the ONTC and the Ring of Fire development corporation to work together. Our first priority is to ensure both of the organizations are able to thrive and bring smart, sustainable development for the North and also for the Province.

(The Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk, summarized from ONTC 2013 Report , the MNDM ministry and it's agencies have such poor relationships and non-effective governance with the ONTC, an open relationship, transparent and open communication is absent.

Nothings changed since then.

Listen to latest talks on Nov 6th, 2014, (CBC Audio) between Michael Gravelle and ONTC union representative, Brian Kelly.

North Bay Mayor, Al MacDonald, ONTC Ministerial Advisory Committee member, said that Ontario’s divestiture [disguised as a transformation plan] for the ONTC had "placed it on life support".

Michael Gravelle had no answers for Kelly on the future of the ONTC nor the Ring of Fire.)

On June 12th the people of Ontario will make a critical choice about our future. Choosing the Ontario Liberals means taking a stand for jobs, for growth, and for keeping our recovery on course. Ontario Liberals will continue to work to create opportunity for all by investing in people, in transit and infrastructure, and in supporting a dynamic and innovative business climate.

(The Ontario Liberals have no Ring of Fire Development Corporation structure or goal timelines, unclear participation, no set of guiding principles, no consensus on its next steps, and soured First Nations relations which it blames on industry.)


Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says industry pressure was one factor in moving ahead with the Ring of Fire Development Corporation without the input of First Nations. (Jody Porter/CBC)


Please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Wynne
Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
Premier