The President of the Northern Policy Institute says environmental assessments on roads heading to the Ring of Fire mining development will take at least a year to do.
Charles Cirtwell adds all groups need to be heard from, but there’s also the landscape to deal with.
“Even in Webequie you’re going to be talking about major bridge construction because it’s at least one river to get across between the community and the mine site.”
He notes those doing the work want to make sure it’s done right.
“They want to make sure they don’t wind up in a similar position as with a pipeline out in BC, where they got a little too fast and missed a few steps.”
The Institute President adds in the past some groups were left out of the assessment, which caused problems.
He admits this brings to mind Premier Ford bragging he’ll use a bulldozer himself to get it going.
“We created expectations that this development was going to happen the very next day, and that’s just not the way it happens. If you look at the way the oil sands came on scene, it was almost 35 years between discovery and actual production. So, one that kind of schedule, we’re well ahead of the game.”
