Should the ONR be the ring's railway?

• Author: Ross, Ian

The Ontario Northland Railway (ONR) is ready to be a logistics player in the Ring of Fire, if and when an ore haul railroad is required.

Now that Queen's Park has unveiled a road-building timetable to reach the Far North mineral deposits, Ontario Northland Transportation Commission presidentCEO Corina Moore said the North Bay-headquartered Crown railroader has the ability to do the job.

"Ontario Northland remains interested in providing input on how we can provide rail support in the future with regards to the Ring of Fire," said Moore in an email.

She was responding to comments made by Noront Resources president-CEO Alan Coutts that the ONR could serve as the exclusive railroader to the Ring.

"When the Ring of Fire chromite market grows to a level requiring rail, Ontario Northland has the experience, technology and capabilities to safely operate and maintain the rail infrastructure," replied Moore.

She said the commission has on occasion "highlighted our capabilities" to Noront, the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and organizations that may be involved in mine-related development.

"To me, that makes a lot of sense," said Coutts, who added his company has been in discussion with the ONR, a provincial agency supported through the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.

"If you're going to think about how you develop that corridor 20 years from now, maybe that's the way to go."

Building a north-south corridor would certainly be the most capital intensive and environmentally risky route since there are major rivers to cross.

"I've talked to them quite a little bit," said Coutts. "I've talked to Corina Moore and her team and they're very interested in the long-term planning horizon. They know that there's no railway required anytime soon. They're thinking longer term and what do (those plans) look like?"

In August, the province announced technical and environmental work had started on a two-road network to reach the Ring of Fire and enable yearround accessibility to nearby First Nation communities.

Construction starts sometime in 2019, pending a myriad of approvals, including consent from area First Nations.

A proposed east-west community/industry road would extend from Pickle Lake into the Ring, while the first leg of a north-south road would begin near Nakina in northwestern Ontario and track north to Marten Falls First Nation.

The north-south corridor has often been linked as the preferred route and most solid ground for...