http://www.ontla.on.ca/house-proceedings/transcripts/files_pdf/10-MAY-2017_L080.pdf

RING OF FIRE
Mr. Michael Mantha: My question is to the Premier
this morning. Yesterday, the Premier was in Sault Ste.
Marie. After conveniently forgetting to mention her lack
of action on the Ring of Fire, she was asked by a reporter
what was going on with the $1 billion she promised for
development. The Premier said, “That billion is available. It’s there.”
Can the Premier tell us exactly where the money is
since it didn’t appear in her budget this year?
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne:  Mr. Speaker, we have
committed $1 billion to building infrastructure in order to
open up the Ring of Fire.
What I also said yesterday—because the member of
the third party has not taken the whole transcript—was
that we are working with the Matawa First Nations. We
are determined that this development will be done in
conjunction with First Nations.
I also said that our history in this province and in this
country is riddled with bad examples of not working with
First Nations, of not stewarding the land, of not being a
partner, of not sharing the resources and the wealth of
this land with First Nations. We’re not going to do that
again.
We are going to work in conjunction with First
Nations. We are going to work to open up those communities—because, of course, this is about the wealth
that’s in the ground in the Ring of Fire, but it’s also about
the economic development of those communities that
circle that very treasure that’s in the land.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please.
Supplementary?
Mr. Michael Mantha:  I’m still looking for that
money in the budget.
This is just another example of the Premier making
big promises and not following through. She was brag

ging about how her budget would help the north, while at
the same time there is no money at all for the Ring of
Fire.
When will this Premier learn that the people of
Ontario see through her desperate political tactics, and
start walking the walk, in addition to talking the talk?
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I was very clear yesterday, and I’m clear today, and I know that all of our
members have been very clear: That billion dollars has
been allocated. It is there. It is there to build the infrastructure, to get going on that road.
Hon. Charles Sousa: All part of page 73.
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne:  On page 73 there’s a
reference to that money. We have been working with the
First Nations. We will continue to do that.
When I was in Sault Ste. Marie yesterday, I was
actually correcting what had been said by members of the
opposition, information that was in fact not accurate,
because that money has not been removed. We are
committed to investing in the Ring of Fire. We’re
working with the First Nations.
I’m sorry if the third party and the opposition don’t
think that that’s a worthwhile endeavour. We know that
if we are actually going to live up to truth and reconciliation in this country, then province by province, territory
by territory, we have to change the relationship between
indigenous and non-indigenous people.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please.
Thank you.
New question.