Is the circle of fire essential for the economic independence of Canada?

The circle of fire is a deposit in northern Ontario which could be worth billions of dollars. Federal conservative chief Pierre Hairy promises $ 1 billion for the project if it is elected, saying that the fire circle is essential to resume “Control of our economy in the hands of Americans”. The project is “critical”, adds Prime Minister Doug Ford.

The project, the importance of which was compared to that of the bituminous sands of Alberta, returned to the news recently with the American customs tariffs, which relaunched the debate on the economic independence of Canada.

Pierre Poilievre promises, if he won the victory on April 28, to approve in 6 months the federal permits necessary for the exploitation of the deposit, in addition to investing 1 billion in an access road.

The Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford, and his Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce denounced the process of federal approval, which can take 15 ansdit M. Ford.

The Circle of Fire was one of the priorities of the speech of the provincial throne on Tuesday, the Ford government supporting that it shelters some of the most promising minerals in the world, representing billions of dollars in economic benefits.

The front line against the economic threats of President Trump goes through the circle of fire. […] Ontario has the minerals the world needs.

Ontario also promises accelerated authorizations thanks to a new law.

Open in full screen

Minerals sought

The five main minerals identified so far in the fire circle, a sector of approximately 5000 square kilometers 500 km from Thunder Bay, are chromite, nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum, indicates the Ontarian government.

Chromite is part of the composition of alloys, while nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum are sought for the production of electric vehicles and their batteries, in particular.

However, Prime Minister Doug Ford is trying to make Ontario a world leader in electric cars.

Open in full screen

The first mining discovery in the fire circle dates back to 2002. The region was later appointed Ring of Fire (Circle of Fire), in reference to the song of the same name of the American singer Johnny Cash.

Despite all the past years, the project is not not particularly Self-late, supports Jean-Charles Cachon, professor of organization strategy at the management faculty of Laurentian University.

It’s been 22 years now that we have made the first discoveries in this region. But it is a region that is extraordinary.

Open in full screen

You need a road

Estimates the value of the minerals of the circle of fire vary enormously, ranging from $ 1,000 billion to a few hundred million.

One thing is certain: it is a very distant region, which is completely cut in the road network of the rest of the province.

In 2018, Mr. Ford said he was ready to take the wheel of a butter (Bulldozer) himself, if it was necessary, for an access road to be built.

The province and First Nations of Marten Falls and Webequie signed an agreement last year concerning the construction of roads serving these communities and the circle of fire. However, these projects are still being studied.

Open in full screen

The sector is made up of peat bogs, which may complicate the construction of a road section, explains Professor Cachon.

We will have to base the seat of this kind of gigantic bridge of more than 300 km on the rocky outcrops which are in the peat bogs in question.

Professor Cachon thinks, however, that a road would not be enough to transport the thousands of tonnes of products. It is not a road that will allow it to do it with small trucks of 45 tonneshe said. It’s going to be a railway.

Such a railroad could cost 3.5 billion, according to him, in addition to the access road, which will Cost at least 1.5 billionhe believes. For the moment, Ontario has only promised 1 billion for a road.

The construction of an access road and a railway could take Several years at leastaccording to Professor Cachon. This is without talking about the need for an electricity supply.

First Nations divisions

Another obstacle for the development of the circle of fire: obtain the agreement of the various First Nations of the region.

For Jason Rasevych, member of the first nation ginoogaming and chairman of the board of directors of the professional and business association Anishnabe in Thunder Bay (ABPA), the province seems to want to use the strategy of dividing to better reign, Building on a partnership with only a few First Nations, rather than taking the time to consult all the affected communities.

He adds that the promise to issue federal permits in 6 months, without consultations, could lead to dams as at the time of the movement Idle No More.

Critical minerals of the fire circle are used as a negotiation tool [face aux tarifs de Trump]. But no more indigenous chiefs should be at the table because of the impact of the project.

He supports the regional evaluation (new window) Launched in January by Ottawa, which brings together 15 First Nations. This examination will not be completed however before 2026.

Open in full screen

First nations should be equal partners of the crown and miningsays Mr. Rasevych, and be consulted for the different stages, be it mining, mine exploitation or dismantling, and have insurance regarding the jobs created and economic benefits.

Mr. Rasevych denounces the current provincial system which allows companies to do dozens of mining claims online in territories subject to the Treaty number 9, simply by clicking on a mouse. A prosecution was also filed in the file.

The Grouping Chiefs of Ontario is urging Prime Minister Ford this week to Respect First Nations rights As part of any bill aimed at accelerating mining projects.

Consultations are not a barrier. It is a way of arriving at a successful, respectful and mutually beneficial development.

If the First Nations decide that they do not want this project, there will be nolaunches Professor Cachon.

For him, indigenous communities are right to be skeptical. He quotes the example of Attawapiskat, who still suffers from drinking water and housing problems, he says, despite the diamond mine that was exploited nearby.

There are communities like Neskantaga, a little south of the Circle of Fire, which, for 30 years, has had drinking water problemshe says.

There is a feeling of abandonment. There is a feeling that we give primacy to industries and we let First Nations deperate.

Open in full screen

Environmental impact

The low lands of Hudson bay are the second largest peat bogunderlines Constance O’Connor, biologist and director of the Northern Boréal Program of Ontario for the environmental body Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS).

Billions of tons of carbon are stored in these peat bogs. [Ce CO2 pourrait être relâché dans l’atmosphère en cas d’exploitation minière].

For her, the current federal evaluation is not what slows down the process. This step allows communities to obtain information to determine whether this project is economically and environmentally viableshe says.

The Australian company Wyloo, one of the main mining with claims in the fire circle, proposes to limit its environmental footprint by transforming the ore underground, rather than in surface.

We would avoid the formation of rock mountains [à l’extérieur de la mine]which would pollute the peat bogssays Professor Cachon.

Wyloo did not want to grant us an interview, citing the current federal electoral campaign. The mining company Juno, the other great player in the fire circle, did not comment either.

As part of the Federal Regional Evaluation, a preliminary report on the roads for the Fire Circle must be presented by January 20, 2026. The regional evaluation working group must file its final report in July 2027.

With the collaboration of Camille Gris Roy