Though disappointed that northwestern Ontario didn't land the prized ferrochrome furnace to process Ring of Fire ore, the region's municipal leadership said communities must be ready to turn the page.
Ron Nelson, president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), said the region must not lose sight of the benefits the Cliffs Natural Resources will bring to the region.
“The decision to locate the
ferrochrome processor in Sudbury represents a loss of 450 future jobs
in northwestern Ontario,” said Nelson, who is also mayor of
O'Connor Township. While disappointed that Thunder Bay and Greenstone
were not successful in landing the furnaces, Nelson added “we must
not lose sight of the positive news that the Cliff's project is
moving to the next phase.”
Nelson said early estimates are that
the mine will create 450 jobs, plus an additional 300 jobs through
construction and operation of an all-season road.
“NOMA will persist in our advocacy efforts to ensure that northwestern Ontario receives the highest possible benefit from mining developments across the region, and to provide guidance on the vital transportation and electrical generation and transmission infrastructure investments that are needed to facilitate the full realization of these opportunities.
“The province could have used this opportunity to announce a win-win for both northeastern and northwestern Ontario and, unfortunately, that didn't happen.”
Nelson said the absence of any specific economic development plans and an infrastructure spending commitment from Queen's Park “is very concerning. “
Nelson said the “need for strategic leadership by the province comes at a critical time in the development of the Ring of Fire when the support of all northwestern Ontario communities, mostly importantly Aboriginal communities, is absolutely needed.”
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