ONTARIO BREAKS GROUND ON ROADWAYS AT THE GATEWAY TO THE RING OF FIRE
All-season road access will unlock the economic potential of the Ring of Fire,
while supporting First Nations and securing Ontario’s critical minerals supply
chain
June 02, 2026
Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic ReconciliationGREENSTONE — Today, Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First
Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire
Economic and Community Partnerships, along with local First Nation partners,
municipal leaders and industry representatives, marked a major milestone on the
gateway to the Ring of Fire, breaking ground on the reconstruction of the
Municipality of Greenstone’s Geraldton Main Street Rehabilitation Project.
As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, developing all-season road
access to the Ring of Fire will strengthen local economies in the North, secure
domestic supply chains and support local First Nations. The project complements
the government’s ambitious plan to accelerate the construction and completion of
the four 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.
“Geraldton’s Main Street has always been about more than rebuilding a road: It
is about building the Corridor to Prosperity, with First Nations and northern
communities as integral leaders and full partners, every step of the way,” said
Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic
Reconciliation. “Today, we provide the baseline access to responsibly develop
the region, unlock the Ring of Fire and ensure that the infrastructure is in
place for shared prosperity in northern and First Nation communities.”
The Ontario government is investing $81.3 million to rebuild Geraldton’s Main
Street, connecting Highway 11 at the south end to Highway 584 at the north,
enhancing safety and accessibility for residents, businesses and heavy
industrial traffic while providing access to the Trans-Canada Highway, a
critical cross-country corridor that supports the movement of billions of
dollars in goods each year. Rehabilitating Geraldton’s Main Street will support
future road development efforts in the region, helping connect northern
communities and remote First Nations to critical goods and services, education
and health care.
“Our government is making historic investments in highway infrastructure to
unlock access to the Ring of Fire by 2030 and realize Ontario’s full economic
potential,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The Ring of
Fire possesses vast resources the world needs, including critical minerals, and
we’re moving forward to build the roads that will transform Ontario’s mining
sector into an economic powerhouse.”
The Main Street rehabilitation project is part of Ontario’s plan to unlock the
Ring of Fire by investing in infrastructure that supports economic development,
job creation and stronger, more connected communities across the north, while
advancing economic reconciliation with First Nations through partnerships that
offer economic opportunities spanning generations. Realizing the economic
potential of the Ring of Fire is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create
more than 70,000 jobs, make Ontario a critical minerals superpower and add $22
billion to the province’s economy over the next 30 years.
Ontario is unlocking the economic potential of the Ring of Fire region while
ensuring First Nation communities benefit from critical mineral development. As
global demand for critical minerals needed to manufacture electric vehicles,
batteries, modern defence technologies and advanced manufacturing continues to
grow, Ontario has the deposits, skilled workforce, expertise and
business-friendly investment climate to secure the province’s place as the most
competitive jurisdiction in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business.
QUICK FACTS
* Pioneer/Minodahmun Development LP, a First Nation-owned partnership, has been
awarded a contract to rebuild Main Street.
* Ontario is moving forward to accelerate the construction of more than 500
kilometres of all-season roads leading to the proposed Eagle’s Nest to unlock
access to the Ring of Fire by 2031 – five years sooner than originally
planned.
* Ontario’s Ring of Fire region, located approximately 500 kilometres northeast
of Thunder Bay and covering about 8,000 square kilometres, represents
enormous economic potential due to its vast supply of critical minerals.
* In January 2025, Ontario and Aroland First Nation announced a Shared
Prosperity Agreement
.
* In October 2025, Ontario and Webequie First Nation signed a Community
Partnership Agreement.
* In November 2025, Ontario and Marten Falls First Nation signed a Community
Partnership Agreement
.
* In March 2, 2026 the Government of Ontario, Marten Falls First Nation and
Webequie First Nation signed Joint Statements of Economic Partnership
.
* To support opportunities for Indigenous equity, ownership and partnership in
critical mineral and infrastructure development, Ontario is investing nearly
$3.1 billion through a mix of loans, grants and scholarships
.
* To provide strategic financial support to projects that accelerate the
province’s critical minerals, Ontario officially launched the $500 million
Critical Minerals Processing Fund
.
QUOTES
“The rehabilitation of Main Street is a once in a generation project that
provides much needed revitalization to a core piece of infrastructure that will
serve as the starting point to the Corridor of Prosperity. This is the single
largest municipal infrastructure project in Greenstone’s history and would not
have been possible without the leadership of Premier Ford and Minister
Rickford.”
– James (Jamie) McPherson
Mayor, Municipality of Greenstone
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
* Learn about the Ring of Fire
* Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2022–2027: Unlocking potential to drive
economic recovery and prosperity
