Ontario and Webequie First Nation Break Ground on Ring of Fire Road

Stephen Lecce, MPP
Jun 25
5 min read

WEBEQUIE FIRST NATION — Today, Premier Doug Ford, Webequie First Nation Chief Lorraine Whitehead, Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships, Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, celebrated the start of construction on the Webequie Supply Road, a historic milestone in the government’s plan to protect Ontario by building the roads to the Ring of Fire, five years ahead of schedule.

"After past governments produced decades of talk, our government is getting shovels in the ground, taking the first major step to unlock the Ring of Fire," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines and MPP for King—Vaughan. "This generational project will strengthen Canada's economic self-reliance and build the infrastructure needed to connect Northern Ontario's world-class critical minerals to global markets while creating 70,000 Canadian jobs, attracting billions in investment and cementing Ontario's position as a global mining and critical minerals powerhouse. While others talk, Ontario is building: moving faster on permits, infrastructure and economic development to make our province the world's most reliable mining partner."

Ontario’s ambitious Ring of Fire road delivery plan delivers on a core mandate commitment and will help unlock the vast economic potential of critical minerals in the region, create well-paying jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains and support long-term economic growth and prosperity for First Nation communities and Northern Ontario.

“Ontario’s Ring of Fire is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create 70,000 good-paying jobs, access the critical minerals the world wants to buy, add $22 billion to our provincial economy and help Northern Ontario reach its full economic potential,” said Premier Ford. “We’re delivering on our promise to protect Ontario, and we are doing so in partnership with First Nations, to support true economic reconciliation. We appreciate the partnership of First Nations leaders and communities, including Chief Lorraine Whitehead and Webequie First Nation, as we continue our work to create opportunity and prosperity across the north.”

The Webequie Supply Road is scheduled to open by November 2030, four years ahead of schedule. The 107-kilometre all-season road will connect Webequie First Nation to the Ring of Fire region and serve as a vital link for future mineral development projects. Once complete and connected to other planned roads, the Webequie Supply Road will improve year-round access to goods and services and connect Webequie community members to essential health and social services while creating lasting opportunities for First Nation-led economic growth and prosperity.

Today’s milestone builds on a decade of collaboration between the province and Webequie First Nation. In October 2025, Ontario and Webequie First Nation signed a historic Community Partnership Agreement to provide critical supports and community benefits for Webequie First Nation and to continue working in collaboration towards advancing the road project on an expedited timeline.

Realizing the economic potential of the Ring of Fire is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create more than 70,000 jobs, make Ontario a critical minerals superpower and add $22 billion to Ontario’s economy over the next 30 years. The approval for the Webequie-led Environmental Assessment is the first step in Ontario’s accelerated plan to complete roads to the Ring of Fire.

Under the accelerated plan, pending all necessary approvals and consultation:

The Marten Falls Community Access Road is scheduled to start construction in August 2026 and open by November 2031, four years ahead of schedule
Upgrades to the Anaconda and Painter Lake Roads are scheduled to open by November 2030, two years ahead of schedule
The Northern Road Link is scheduled to start construction in spring 2028 and open by November 2031, five years ahead of schedule.

Today’s announcement is part of the government’s plan to unlock the economic potential of the Ring of Fire region while ensuring First Nation communities benefit from critical mineral development. As the global demand for critical minerals needed to manufacture electric vehicles, batteries, modern defence technologies and advanced manufacturing continues to grow, Ontario has the deposits, skilled workforce, expertise and business-friendly investment climate to secure the province’s place as the most competitive jurisdiction in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business.

Quick Facts

Construction of the Webequie Supply Road will involve 31 water crossings, including six bridges and 25 culverts, in addition to aggregate sites and a maintenance facility.
Ontario’s Ring of Fire region, located approximately 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and covering about 8,000 square kilometres, represents enormous economic potential due to its vast supply of critical minerals.
Webequie First Nation is a remote community 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay accessible by air via the Webequie Airport, by water and by winter road.
The Webequie Supply Road is one of several proposed road projects that form part of the Ring of Fire road network and are critical to the development of the Ring of Fire. The other proposed projects are the Marten Falls Community Access Road, Anaconda and Painter Lake Road upgrades and the Northern Road Link.
On June 2, 2026, Ontario broke ground on the reconstruction of the Municipality of Greenstone’s $81.3 million Geraldton Main Street Rehabilitation Project, a critical road infrastructure project in Greenstone that will serve as the gateway to the Ring of Fire.
On March 2, 2026, the Ontario government, Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation signed Joint Statements of Economic Partnership.
In November 2025, Ontario and Marten Falls First Nation signed a Community Partnership Agreement.
In January 2025, Ontario and Aroland First Nation announced a Shared Prosperity Agreement.
To support opportunities for Indigenous equity, ownership and partnership in critical mineral and infrastructure development, Ontario is investing nearly $3.1 billion through a mix of loans, grants and scholarships.
To provide strategic financial support to projects that accelerate processing of the province’s critical minerals, Ontario officially launched the $500 million Critical Minerals Processing Fund.

Quotes

"Today is about Webequie First Nation and their leadership, together with partnering First Nations in the Ring of Fire region, who remain committed to protecting traditions and their way of life in the far North, while moving forward on modern legacy infrastructure needed to access the kinds of economic activities that create lasting prosperity."

- Greg Rickford

Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships

"Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is protecting Ontario by accelerating the construction of more than 500 kilometres of proposed all-season roads leading to the Ring of Fire as we continue our work to build a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant economy. The Webequie Supply Road will serve as a vital link to the Ring of Fire while improving transportation options and generating good-paying jobs for Webequie First Nation."

- Prabmeet Sarkaria

Minister of Transportation

"The successful completion of Webequie First Nation’s environmental assessment is proof that a strong economy and a healthy environment can go hand in hand. Along with First Nations partners, Ontario is unlocking critical minerals and generational economic opportunity in the North while safeguarding our shared environment."

- Todd McCarthy

Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

"Reliable transportation infrastructure serves as a critical link to essential services, drives regional economic growth and enhances community well-being. Today’s groundbreaking marks a historic milestone for Webequie First Nation and neighboring communities. This vital corridor will significantly improve regional connectivity, stimulate local economies and ensure a prosperous future all while making progress on the development of the Ring of Fire."

- George Pirie

Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth

Additional Resources