Ring of Fire mining project no magic bullet for Aboriginal communities: Rae

TORONTO – Former Liberal leader Bob Rae says natural resource projects such as Ontario’s massive Ring of Fire aren’t “magic bullets” to eliminate poverty in remote Aboriginal communities.

Rae told a Toronto conference that several approaches are needed — including jobs training, education and governance — to help the resource-rich but underdeveloped areas raise themselves up.

Rae says that while Canada has the experience and know-how to help impoverished communities abroad, it must start applying that knowledge domestically.

He says money invested in aboriginal communities can’t be counted on to “trickle down” to residents.

Rae stepped down from federal politics earlier this year and is acting as chief negotiator for Matawa First Nations Tribal Council in talks with the province over Ring of Fire development.

The Ontario and federal governments are hoping the mining project will lead to billions of private investment to extract valuable minerals such as chromite.