Canadian Press

Premier Kathleen Wynne says there can’t be any further delays over building roads into the Ring of Fire region.

The province has been talking with the chiefs of the nine Matawa First Nations for years over the issue, ever since the Liberals pledged one billion dollars to fund infrastructure into the chromite-rich area.

But Wynne has sent a letter to the chiefs saying the opportunity to build all-season roads should not be squandered.

She says she’s prepared to abandon joint talks and enter into bilateral discussions with those Matawa First Nations who do want to pursue transportation infrastructure.

The mining area northeast of Thunder Bay holds one of the world’s richest chromite deposits as well as nickel, copper and platinum.