Ontario releases plan to complete Ring of Fire roads five years ahead of schedule

The Government of Ontario released a plan to accelerate the completion of construction on the all-seasons roads to the Ring of Fire five years ahead of schedule, with construction planned to start in June 2026 and roads beginning to open in November 2030.

The government has also signed new economic partnerships with Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation, which, combined with the accelerated construction schedule and streamlined regulatory environment to speed up approvals, including through “One Project, One Process” and the province’s recent agreement with the federal government to eliminate the duplicative impact assessment process, will pave the way for advanced exploration activities in the Ring of Fire.

“Unlocking Ontario’s vast supply of critical minerals in the Ring of Fire is at the heart of our plan to protect Ontario and build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Today’s accelerated construction schedule and historic economic agreements with First Nations partners will see roads to the Ring of Fire finished five years ahead of schedule as we begin to deliver generational economic benefits to the region and all of Ontario.”

Under the accelerated plan:

• The Webequie Supply Road is scheduled to start construction in June 2026 and open by November 2030, four years ahead of schedule
• 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.

The province, Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation also signed Joint Statements of Economic Partnership, building on the Community Partnership Agreements signed in 2025. These agreements reaffirm a shared commitment to ensure First Nations are full partners in the economic development of the Ring of Fire by:

• Facilitating equity opportunities through the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program, including exploring opportunities to operate an aerodrome, accommodations and aggregate businesses
• Providing $2.5 million in funding to support economic activities in the regional mineral sector, as well as a First Nations-led employment readiness survey
• Working collaboratively to identify skills training to ensure community members are well-positioned to benefit from emerging job opportunities.

“Our vision has always been to lead economic development within our traditional territories, and true reconciliation requires the resources to make that happen,” said Bruce Achneepineskum, Chief of Marten Falls First Nation. “Through this agreement with Ontario for development planning, we are laying the groundwork for sustainable, Indigenous-led prosperity as the Ring of Fire advances. We are equipping our people with the tools to protect our interests, capitalize on business opportunities and drive long-term economic independence. This is about ensuring our community is ready to build, lead and thrive.”

In September 2025, the government announced an investment of $61.8 million in Geraldton’s Main Street Rehabilitation Project, a critical road infrastructure project in Greenstone that will be the gateway to the Ring of Fire.

Featured image: Premier Doug Ford, Marten Falls Chief Bruce Achneepineskum and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford. (Government of Ontario)