An open house in Thunder Bay about a proposed mine in the Ring of Fire drew residents concerned about its environmental impact and others who hope the project will provide badly needed jobs.

Cliffs Natural Resources called Thursday's night's meeting to outline its plans for an environmental assessment of the proposed chromite project, 540 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) and the Canadian Wildlife Service have already raised warning flags about the impact of the proposed mine, and that got the attention of Thunder Bay resident Gordon Wabasse.

The proposed chromite mine is located in the Ring of Fire area north of Thunder Bay.Wabasse, who is a member of the Webequie First Nation, said the potential economic benefits for the region should not trump the project's environmental impact.

"I'm very concerned about the river systems and the species at risk, especially the Northland caribou," Wabasse told CBC News at Thursday night's open house. He said he planned to submit his concerns as part of the public consultation process.

For others, the evening was all about jobs.

"Just by reading all the boards and seeing how much employment they're forecasting, that's a lot money for the neighbourhood," said Thunder Bay resident Norman Fullum. "More employment makes the world go round."

In another development, a Cliffs Natural Resources official says the company is counting on the Ontario government to help build the road it needs to get ore out of the Ring of Fire.

Senior vice-president Bill Boor said he's heard the talk that the province may consider putting road projects on hold because of its deficit. However, he said, the government needs to consider what's at stake, including badly needed jobs.

"We do view the road as Onatrio infrastructure that's going to create other mining opportunities in the Ring of Fire area beyond ours and also provide a lot of social benefits for the First Nations that are up in those areas," Boor said