Hear directly from Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit, the Honourable Bob Rae, Christine Kaszycki and Joseph Gaboury on the challenges and opportunities created by the Ring of Fire.  Ring of Fire is the name of a 5,000 square kilometre crescent shaped area filled with chromite, nickel, copper, zinc and gold deposits in northern Ontario.  The area is remote, inaccessible by road and is surrounded by many First Nations who are part of the Matawa First Nations and Nishnawbe Aski Nation.  Ontario’s Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle called the region “one of the most promising mineral development opportunities in Ontario in more than a century”.

Will this mega-development translate into employment, infrastructure and economic development opportunities for the surrounding First Nations, or will they simply bear the environmental costs with little long term benefit?  Falling commodity prices, growing concern from First Nation communities on consultation issues, and a halt in the environmental review by Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. have stalled the development.  How will the parties use this time to ensure maximum benefits flow from the ultimate development of the Ring of Fire?

PANELISTS:

The Honourable Bob Rae, Chief Negotiator for Matawa First Nations
Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Christine Kaszycki,  Assistant Deputy Minister, Ring of Fire Secretariat, Min. of Northern Development and Mines, Ontario
Joseph Gaboury, Director - Aboriginal Affairs, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

MODERATOR:

Katherine Koostachin, Willms & Shier, Environmental Lawyers LLP

PROGRAM CHAIR:

Julie Jai, Chair, OBA Aboriginal Law Section