SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — Ontario Progressive Conservative Chief Doug Ford is touting the progress his occasion has made on the Ring of Fireplace growth, saying the minerals extracted from the positioning will make Ontario a “useful resource powerhouse,” permitting the province to turn into a pacesetter in electric-vehicle manufacturing in North America.

He says his occasion would proceed to work with Indigenous communities and make investments $1 billion to construct an all-season street to potential mining websites within the Ring of Fireplace if re-elected in June.

The Ring of Fireplace is a area about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay that’s stated to be wealthy in vital minerals and the province has made long-standing guarantees to develop and mine the realm.

Final month, Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations stated they are going to be submitting a phrases of reference for an environmental evaluation for the proposed Northern Highway Hyperlink mission, which the province says is the ultimate piece of vital street infrastructure within the Ring of Fireplace growth.

Ford says he is “proud” to have sat down with the chiefs of the Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations final month and that collaboration with group companions is what’s been lacking from getting the “bold” mission completed.

He says the Ring of Fireplace growth will create hundreds of latest jobs within the mining business and produce “numerous” advantages and alternatives for Indigenous communities, together with simpler entry to on a regular basis items like groceries, gas and water.