Wynne seeks matching federal cash for mines

TORONTO — The federal government funded large-scale infrastructure projects in other provinces and should be prepared to help develop the min- eral rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, Premier Kathleen Wynne said Friday.

The capital investment for industrial infrastructure is expected to be up to $1 billion, plus another $1.25 billion to construct all- season access roads to the remote region 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

“Ontario is prepared to make a substantial contribution to the infrastructure needed to access the resources,” Wynne said in a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “We expect your government to come to the table with matching funds.”

The letter lists specific federal contributions to projects in other provinces, including $508 million in direct spending in “the fossil fuels sector,” $130 million for the Northwest Transmission Line in British Columbia and $6.3 billion in a federal loan guarantee for the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project in Labrador.

“Investing in Ring of Fire related infrastructure is a good investment because of the economic opportunity estimated to be on the order of $60 billion,” wrote Wynne. “It is as transfor- mative as opportunities arising from other energy and resources developments that your government supports.”

The province also announced Friday it was creating a new development corporation for the Ring of Fire to bring together private and public partners.