Michael Gravelle, minister of Northern Development and Mines, takes part in a press conference at the Mining Innovation Summit in Sudbury, Ont. on Tuesday November 1, 2016. John Lappa/Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network

The Wynne government is as keen to advance development of the Ring of Fire as any company or individual, says Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle.

The Ontario government is working with its partners, including Noront Resources Inc. and neighbouring First Nations, to "bring the Ring of Fire project forward," Gravelle told reporters Tuesday at a conference in Sudbury.

Gravelle attended the Mining Innovation Summit 2016 at which he announced $2.5 million in new funding for the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation in Sudbury.

Part of that money will go toward the Ultra Deep Mining Network, a five-year, $46-million initiative to help companies with deep mines operate safely and efficiently.

The rest of the $2.5 million will go to small- and medium-sized enterprises whose owners have innovative ideas they wish to develop.

Gravelle told reporters his government wants to move the Ring of Fire forward and is determined to "elevate conversations" with first nations "so we can have some decisions moving forward."

The province continues to work with four first nations near the Ring on a community corridor study to see if it can get a decision on road recommendations, said Gravelle.

The minister said he keeps in close touch with Noront Resources president and chief executive officer Alan Coutts because "we appreciate this is a significant project."

Noront has the largest number of claims in the Ring of Fire by far.

Coutts has said his company must get a commitment by the end of this year to build a shared use access road so it can begin construction in 2018 of its Eagle's Nest mine, a high-grade nickel, copper and platinum group element deposit. After that, Noront will develop its Blackbird chromite mine.

Gravelle said "very significant discussions" have been held among partners since a framework agreement was reached between the Government of Ontario and members of the Matawa Council, representing nine first nations near the Ring of Fire.

That agreement, which Gravelle has repeatedly called historic, was signed in April 2014.

"Indeed it is historic," said Gravelle, "and one I think we need to understand in order for the project ti move forward."

Gravelle has said Tuesday his government is committed to developing the riches of the Ring of Fire, estimated to be worth as kuch as $60 billion, but it wants to do it right.

"It's no different than it was a year ago, two years ago, and we are determined to see that project move forward and we are going to continue to do the diligent hard work we are to see that happen.'

Douglas Morrison, chief executive officer of CEMI, was pleased with the new funding for his organization. The Ultra Deep Mining Network has been funded by the federal government and industry. The latter has not be able to fulfil all its commitments to the project because of the slump the mining industry is in.

"We managed to persuade the province to step in and help" with funding, Morrison told reporter, "so all of the work we wanted to get completed would be completed before the end of the five-year program."

CMulligan@Postmedia.com

http://www.thesudburystar.com/2016/11/01/grits-want-ring-developed-too-minister