Hon. Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario: Thank you very much. The honourable senator is right. I am the minister for FedNor, which my community likes to remind me of because this is an important role that is of significance to northern Ontario.

The Ring of Fire, obviously, is a very important deposit. It’s also a very environmentally fragile place. Many First Nations have a distinct interest and treaty rights in that area. It’s delicate work and it’s important that we do it in partnership with both the Province of Ontario and the First Nations communities that are closest to the deposit. We now have funding for a critical minerals strategy. That strategy will be announced shortly. It gives more detail about how it will support not only the Province of Ontario but also Indigenous peoples in areas like the Ring of Fire, where there is a significant interest not just nationally but globally.

We will have to be careful about how we do this not only from an environmental perspective but also from the perspective of full inclusion of Indigenous peoples. In the Ring of Fire, some communities are favourable to opening up the region to mining; other communities are not so favourable. All of those voices will be important in this work. It isn’t quick or easy work, but it is important work. FedNor will continue to be there to support the engagement process, to support industry that’s looking to develop those minerals and I will continue to be there with both my hats on to make sure it is done properly.