Vol. 55 No. 2 - Summer 2025
In this issue of The Land Economist, we’re introducing a new, irregular feature: For the Record. It will focus on candid conversations with people from a variety of occupations
and professions whose opinions, ideas and concerns are of interest or import to our readers.
We’re kicking off For the Record with a conversation with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Here’s why …
We have extensively covered Ontario’s Ring of Fire in this and previous editions of The Land Economist. The critical-minerals rich Ring of Fire holds enormous potential. However, accessing this remote and challenging northern environment presents numerous logistical, environmental and political obstacles that continue to hinder its development.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is a strong advocate for the Ring of Fire’s development. Recently, The Land Economist had the opportunity to speak with the Premier about his plans and hopes for the rapid advancement of this project.
The Land Economist
Good afternoon, Premier Ford. Thanks for doing this, we appreciate it. I understand you’ll be at the Association of Ontario Land Economists’ annual dinner meeting in September, where they will award you an honorary membership and a Professional Land Economist designation. Only Hazel McCallion and a select few others have also gotten the same honour, so congratulations on that.
Premier Ford
Well, I’m very honored. It’s a real honor to receive that.
The Land Economist
We know you’re really busy (so we’ll) try to make this quick for you.
We sent some background material to your office, but I’m sure, given your busy schedule, you haven’t had a chance to look at it.
So, just for some context as to why we’re doing this: The AOLE has the long-standing expertise in infrastructure, planning, and innovation solutions. So, we’re keenly interested in the Ring of Fire and its successful development.
That’s why we’d like to hear directly from you where things are now and how Ontario can maximize this once-in-a-generation asset for the province and the country.
How does your plan for the Ring of Fire help realize Ontario’s economic potential, in partnership with First Nations and Indigenous communities?
Premier Ford
Well, first of all, let me first start off with the fact that now more than ever, I always say we must make Ontario and Canada more resilient, self-reliant, not rely on the U.S. so much, and make sure that we have the strongest economy.
President Trump’s tariffs impact our critical sectors right across the board and really bring uncertainty, and no one likes uncertainty when it comes to business or in their general lives. But we have to make sure, that we bring certainty back here at home. And one of the avenues, obviously, is the Ring of Fire.
I always say we could be the wealthiest nation in the world if we start getting shovels on the ground, getting over 170 of the world’s most strategic minerals and deposits out of the ground -- including uranium and cobalt, nickel and copper.
[Speaking of copper], as you heard about President Trump putting tariffs on copper. At the end of the day, though, the US needs our critical minerals. They need them for their aerospace sector and manufacturing sector and their military.
And critical minerals are needed everywhere else, as well, no matter if it’s electric vehicles, military jets or items like cell phones and computers and medical devices -- everything has a critical mineral in there somewhere.
We’ve invested over a billion dollars to support the critical mineral infrastructure that we need to get up to the Ring of Fire area, including to developing the all-season road network. And we’re investing in high-speed internet, road upgrades, and community supports.
Now, the road to the Ring of Fire, yes, it’s to get our critical minerals out, but it adds all sorts of different areas of support for our First Nations communities, like health care, and making sure they have proper energy so they aren’t running on diesel all year round. It also provides access to better health care and food access.
So that’s what we’re really going to be focused on, and we’re not alone when we talk about this, because governments across Canada have acted to get the shovels in the ground as well. British Columbia, for example, which has an NDP government, passed legislation to fast-track the permitting, and so did the federal Liberal government.
And so it’s really a growing national momentum right across party lines, and it really reflects the urgent need to modernize and accelerate nation-building projects, and that’s exactly what our legislation does with Bill 5. It’s about cutting government red tape at all levels and streamlining repetitive approvals.
What drives me absolutely crazy is when we’re doing approvals and the feds overlap; the federal government needs to get out of our way so we can start developing our resources faster.
Ontario has the One Project, One Process model – which, by the way, the federal government is also implementing on nation-building projects – and in support of that model, over the summer, we invited the First Nations to Queen’s Park to talk about Bill 5, because we wanted to make sure they were a part of it. And they realized that what we’re putting in $10 million of scholarships for their young people and $70 million in training.
In total, we have offered First Nations Communities $3 billion of equity to get involved, and I can tell you, at that Council Federation meeting (in the summer), all the Chiefs said one thing: Let’s stop talking and let’s start moving. So that’s positive -- they understand.
I want is to make sure that the First Nations communities prosper and that Ontario and Canada prosper--, and we can do that when we work together.
The Land Economist
What are your next steps and immediate priorities?
Premier Ford
So, what we’re doing is working with Aroland First Nations, and we’ve signed a partnership with them to start building that first 80-kilometer stretch to get into the Ring of Fire.
We’ve also negotiated a long-term agreement with Webequie First Nations that includes the First Nations leading the environmental assessments for the proposed all-season road projects in the Ring of Fire. We’re going to continue to work in lockstep with the First Nations leadership to plan critical infrastructure in the Ring of Fire.
I just want to congratulate them on the release of the draft environmental assessments this summer for at least the two out of the three road projects. These are significant milestones on the path to the all-season road access.
In terms of timing, Webequie First Nations is currently targeting a submission of the final reports to the provincial and federal governments by mid-2026 for the Webequie Supply Road and by early 2028 for the Northern Road Link Project.
The Land Economist
Given your progress, are you able to provide a realistic estimate of when the Ring of Fire will go live, when we’ll actually begin to see minerals coming out of the Ring of Fire?
Premier Ford
Well, I want it to happen tomorrow. But realistically, probably closer to 2029 -- 2030, we will know exactly where mining companies are focused and are able to get their equipment in and out of there.
We need to find a way to get minerals out of the Ring of Fire and get them out to market. Too often we do what I call rip and ship, -- get minerals out of the ground and send it to some other country to be refined, and that’s going to stop. We need to refine our minerals right here in Ontario.
The Land Economist
You mentioned how you’re attempting to align with Ontario’s Bill 5 with the Feds Bill C-5. Is that partnership working well?
Premier Ford
Yes, it is. We’re moving but I always have to push the federal government to move faster, quicker, and immediate. Those are my favourite three words: faster, quicker, and immediate. Because dealing with federal government is like trying to push a boulder uphill. And a lot of times the problem with government is government. They’re the biggest culprits.
So, we’re going to streamline everything. At one time it would take 15 years to get a permit to get minerals out of the ground. We want to get it within 23, 24 months, max. We want to even move it quicker than that to compete against the rest of the world.
The Land Economist
[Recently] Prime Minister Carney announced an agreement to supply Germany with rare minerals from Canada. Carney mentioned developing ports in the West and along the St. Lawrence but didn’t include any Ontario developments in his announcement.
Does the omission of Ontario in Carney’s announcement make any difference to you in terms of the provincial/federal fasttrack partnership you talked about?
Premier Ford
Not necessarily. I just want to emphasize, yes, anyone can have our critical minerals as long as we refine them here. And then we’ll put them into the open market around the world. And I’m confident that the federal government will be there to support us on the road to the Ring of Fire. Prime Minister Carney has told me that.
I’ll have to take his word for it until otherwise. And either way, we’re moving. We’re moving as we’re talking right now.
The Land Economist
Thank you for this conversation, Premier Ford.
Premier Ford
Well, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Editor’s note:
Conversation date: August 25, 2025