Ring of Fire framework agreement reached


The nine Matawa member First Nations and the Ontario government have developed a regional framework agreement on the Ring of Fire. The RFA sets out a community-based regional approach ensuring that Matawa member First Nations and Ontario work together to advance opportunities in the Ring of Fire—focusing on the issues of regional long-term environmental monitoring, enhanced participation in environmental assessment processes, resource revenue sharing, economic supports, as well as regional and community infrastructure. It was developed with the assistance of negotiators Bob Rae and Frank Iacobucci to enhance community-based MOUs that were signed in September 2012. “The RFA is a step in the right direction and the concept has the potential to be a model to provide better economic certainty for resource extraction, economic development projects, as well as guarantee meaningful participation of First Nations in the global economy,” said Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy, in a news release.