Mining Claims Surge 66% in Ring of Fire Over Last Three Years, Reports Environmental Group
TORONTO — An environmental organization reported on Wednesday that mining claim areas in the Ring of Fire have surged by 66 percent over the past three years, encompassing a span 14 times larger than that of Toronto.
There are currently over 43,000 claims in the area located approximately 450 kilometers north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, according to Anna Baggio, who serves as the conservation director for Wildlands League.
“The allegations are escalating, which poses an issue,” stated Baggio, after retrieving the information from the Ontario Geological Survey website.
The issue at hand is similar to what occurs across Canada, where registration for such claims operates under an open-access regime. This means anybody with a prospector’s license and who has completed the required Mining Act course can apply for a claim.
Ontario has recently introduced legislation, referred to as Bill 5, which proposes the establishment of what are termed special economic zones. Within these areas, any project could potentially bypass existing laws and regulations.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that the Ring of Fire area would serve as the initial designated zone, with its valuable resources playing a key role in addressing U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which sparked a trade dispute between Canada and the United States.
The comprehensive bill suggests eliminating safeguards for threatened flora and fauna, allowing developments—especially mining initiatives—to proceed much more swiftly.
The legislation has ignited outrage and criticism from First Nations, environmental groups, and civil liberties organizations, whereas it has received backing from the mining sector.
The Energy and Mines Minister, Stephen Lecce, stated that the province is focusing on assisting the two primary firms holding most of the mineral rights in the region by offering them essential infrastructure and a streamlined regulatory framework to expedite mine development.
“It represents a substantial reserve of critical minerals that the global community requires,” stated Lecce.
The Ring of Fire Metals, controlled by the large Australian mining corporation Wyumo, along with Juno Corp—a Canadian entity established in 2019—possess most of the mineral rights in an area renowned for its abundance of crucial elements.
Baggio stated that the mining claims aren’t simply stakes registered online. The Wildlands League has observed activities such as deforestation and other developments through multiple flyovers of the Ring of Fire area in recent years.
“These actions are highly detrimental,” she stated. “They’re deforesting areas, moving heavy equipment across the wilderness, carving out paths, and installing cables to understand what lies underground. This has created a considerable disruptive impact so far, and we haven’t reached the stage of actual mining development yet.”
Located within the Hudson Bay Lowlands, the Ring of Fire region encompasses territories belonging to nine First Nations communities.
Currently, two Indigenous communities are at the forefront of conducting an environmental review for multiple road projects. These routes aim to link the planned Eagle’s Nest mine with these Indigenous groups as well as integrate them into the provincial highway network.
The province has entered into agreements with Webequie First Nation and Marten Falls First Nation, promising support for constructing infrastructure initiatives within these communities. Additionally, the province has agreed to collaborate with Aroland First Nation through a shared-prosperity pact aimed at reconstructing two roadways that will link up with the planned routes leading to the Ring of Fire area.
However, numerous other First Nations in the region—and farther afield—are opposed to developing the land without their approval. They advocate for provincial assistance in addressing persistent issues such as inadequate water supply, substandard housing, and widespread mental health crises that affect many isolated Indigenous communities before considering mineral extraction activities.
The province aims to assist numerous isolated First Nation communities accessible only by air, which currently rely on diesel power, to connect to the electrical grid as part of developing the “pathway to prosperity.” This was stated by Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford.
He emphasized that they are discussing approximately six First Nation communities that continue to rely on diesel power for their energy needs. “Nobody wants this situation—it’s not something you desire, nor do I, and certainly they don’t either,” he stated.
Rickford highlighted the government’s announcement from Wednesday, which triples the province’s allocation for loan guarantees via an Indigenous financing initiative to reach $3 billion, as evidence of Ontario’s dedication to fostering economic reconciliation with First Nations communities.
He mentioned that mining, energy, and pipeline projects would qualify for the fund.
They mentioned that other resource initiatives throughout the province involve Indigenous ownership rather than impact benefit agreements,” he stated. “These are genuine partnership accords.
He mentioned that he hopes to see more of this moving ahead, particularly concerning the Ring of Fire.
He stated that this presents an exceptional chance for Indigenous-led initiatives in the sectors of forestry and mining.
However, he does not foresee thousands of mines being established in the area.
He stated, ‘The market is indicating, “We would prefer to have road access so that at least one or two of these mines can begin extraction as soon as possible.””
The province will contribute an additional $10 million over three years to establish new scholarships for First Nations post-secondary students aiming to pursue careers in resource development.
Sol Mamakwa, the NDP member for Kiiwetinoong, which encompasses the area known as the Ring of Fire, stated that the government has already fallen short in fulfilling its obligation to consult with indigenous communities.
“These special economic zones essentially serve as cheats for the government to seize control of the land, which they refer to as being ‘for strategic purposes,’ ” Mamakwa stated.
The administration is leveraging the present tariff circumstances to encourage growth on our treaty territories without any discussion and without allowing First Nations to benefit from these opportunities.
The report from The Canadian Press was initially released on May 21, 2025.
Liam Casey from The Canadian Press