http://www.ontla.on.ca/house-proceedings/transcripts/files_pdf/06-MAR-2017_L050.pdf

RING OF FIRE
Mr. Norm Miller: My question is to the Premier. The
current government has been in power since the Ring of
Fire was first discovered. At various points in the past
five years, this government has been quick to try to take
credit, but to date we are still waiting for a mine to open
in the region.
Noront is ready to get a nickel mine up and running
with an eye to future expansion. The Ontario Chamber of
Commerce estimates that 5,500 jobs will be created if the
project is brought into production.
Speaker, I’ve asked this question repeatedly over the
past three years: Will this government finally take a

leadership role that will make the Ring of Fire a reality in
Ontario?
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
Hon. Bill Mauro: Speaker, thank you very much for
the question. I understand why the member would ask it
today. The PDAC conference is currently on here in
Toronto. I want to give a big shout-out before I respond
to the member. We had a great Ontario reception last
night down at Steam Whistle. It was a great event.
I would say—and the reason I reference that,
Speaker—that when I was there, I had an opportunity to
speak with Noront. While I would not necessarily characterize their position right now—what would be the language best to describe it? I would say they’re optimistic.
I had, I’d say, at least 15 minutes with the principal from
Noront last night. There’s more that I can add in the
supplementary, but they do see a path forward. I had a
great opportunity to spend some time talking to the principal from Noront last night. We’re very happy with
where this is at right now.
We understand there’s more work to be done, Speaker.
We’re committed to it. They know we’ve got $1 billion
on the table. We’re committed to the work, and I look
forward to working further on this file in the weeks and
months ahead.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.
Mr. Norm Miller: Again to the Premier: Speaker, the
minister continues to insist that progress is being made.
Unfortunately we are still waiting for evidence of those
claims. When is someone over there going to make some
decisions to move things forward?
The known deposits in the region could sustain producing mines in the region for over 100 years.

In the mandate letter to the minister from this past
September, roadwork to upgrade existing infrastructure
and connect the Ring of Fire is to commence. Speaker,
does the Premier plan to meet this important target or
simply continue to make promises until after the 2018
election?
Hon. Bill Mauro:  Yes, in fact, progress is being
made. If the member opposite and the parties opposite
want to speak about progress in mining in the province of
Ontario in the context of only one project, then that will
be what they can do.
What we can do on this side of the House is talk about
the fact that currently in Ontario, there are three other
mines under construction in the province. But they want to
spend their time focusing on one. There’s one not too far
from my home community of Thunder Bay called the New
Gold project. Speaker, right now it’s under construction
and 600 people are working on a construction site. When
that mine is open for the next 10, 20 or 30 years of its life,
there are going to be 450 people working in that mine.
And that is not the only mine that is under construction
right now in the province of Ontario.
Mineral exploration activity in the province of Ontario
is climbing  after two down years. Global demand is
coming back up. The price is coming back up.
Exploration activity in Ontario is going up. There’s good

news on the front, but they just want to focus on one
particular project.