But Webequie's Wabasse emphasized his community has yet to give its consent for the road.

Maybe looking for a little bag of goodies to admit this is what their community needs to prosper with Marten Falls????

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https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/regional-news/far-north-ring-of-fire/environmental-assessments-start-for-ring-of-fire-roads-4501144

Environmental assessments start for Ring of Fire roads

The provincial environmental assessment (EA) process is starting for two stretches of the proposed Ring of Fire road network.

Late on Oct. 8, Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister David Piccini announced approval has been given for the terms of reference for the Marten Falls Community Access Road.

That coincided with separate news from Chief Cornelius Wabasse of Webequie First Nation that his community has also given approval for the terms of reference of the Webequie Supply Road. 

His First Nation, which is the closest community to the Ring of Fire mineral belt, was designated by the province as being the project proponent.

The terms of reference process involves engaging community members, other First Nations, and other interested public stakeholders to help develop a detailed work plan for how the EA will take shape.  

In a news release, Marten Falls Chief Bruce Achneepineskum was pleased that a major milestone has been passed for a road project that will "enable socio-economic development to reach unprecedented levels within this region."

But Webequie's Wabasse emphasized his community has yet to give its consent for the road.

"At this stage, we don't know if Webequie First Nation will decide to build a road, but we are generating the information needed to inform those future decisions."

The Webequie Supply Road would be the last critical stretch of road into the Ring of Fire.

The proposed 107-kilometre link is between the Webequie Airport and the area around McFaulds Lake in the James Bay region. The permanent road would serve as a haul road to facilitate and expedite the year-round movement of supplies, material and supply to support mineral exploration activity and future mining developments.

Said Wabasse: "Ultimately, it will be a community-directed decision by the people of Webequie First Nation whether to proceed or not with the construction of a supply road after the Environmental Studies and Impact Assessments are complete."

"We remain committed to a First Nations-directed approach on this assessment; one that upholds our community principles, values input from others, and supports our environmental stewardship responsibilities."

The Marten Falls' Community Access Road is the most southern end of the Ring of Fire road system. It will run over a 190-kilometre to 230-kilometre stretch from the north end of the Painter Lake forestry road, near Nakina, north to Marten Falls located the junction of the Albany and Ogoki Rivers.

Both links are part of a three-phased road network to provide the first overland route into this remote area of the Far North which is reachable only by aircraft.

The supply roads will be developed and funded by government.

In a statement, Marten Falls' Achneepineskum was pleased with his community's efforts and the minister's decision.

"The real work of the EA begins now, and I encourage all our neighbouring communities to meet with us, in person or remotely, to consult on the EA. This is where the actual work of the assessment begins."

Wabasse marked the occasion as being the first provincial EA "to be led and driven by a First Nation."

"We look forward to getting started on the many studies and consultation activities that will allow us to make informed decisions about a potential road in our territory. We appreciate the Ontario government's commitment to supporting the planning of key community infrastructure that has the potential to bring positive socio-economic impacts to the region," he said.

According to the project timelines from Noront Resources, the leading mine developer in the Ring of Fire, all the road EAs are scheduled to be finished by the end of 2023.

The beginning of construction of the 300-kilometre North-South Road is slated to begin in mid-2022. Noront is timing the start of construction of its Eagle's Nest nickel mine at the beginning of 2024 to be ready for commercial production by 2026.