TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – The Ontario government has appointed former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci as lead negotiator in discussions with chiefs of the Matawa Tribal Council over resource developments in the Ring of Fire.

The provincial government on Tuesday said Iacobucci would engage in community-led discussions on regional considerations with the chiefs of the First Nations located closest to the proposed resource developments in the Ring of Fire and their lead negotiator Bob Rae, before engaging in more formal negotiations.

US diversified miner Cliffs Natural Resources in June suspended environmental assessment activities for its $3.3-billion chromite project in Ontario’s mineral-rich north, citing stalled negotiations between First Nations and government and delays to the assessment process as among the reasons for its decision.

"The province is taking a smart, sustainable and collaborative approach to resource development in the Ring of Fire. We want development to deliver social and economic benefits for all Ontarians, while collaborating with First Nations and ensuring environmental responsibility. I am confident that Iacobucci will help ensure that everyone benefits from the economic and social opportunities of this unprecedented natural resource,” Ontario Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle said in an emailed statement.

Iacobucci would set out to find common ground with First Nations on environmental protection and monitoring, regional infrastructure planning and development, resource revenue sharing, and social and economic supports.

A grass-roots Aboriginal protest movement known as ‘Idle No More’ staged demonstrations and blocked roads and rail lines across Canada late last year and early this year, in part to call attention to the impoverished living conditions of many Aboriginals, especially in remote communities.

Another Ring of Fire proponent, Noront Resources, on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of Iacobucci.

"Having the right conversations is essential for successful development in the Ring of Fire. We are eager to see a workable infrastructure solution that will allow us to bring our mine into production, and we have been collaborating with local First Nations throughout our own environmental assessment process to help make that happen," Noront chairperson and interim CEO Paul Parisotto said.

Noront is in the final stage of its environmental assessment for its Eagle's Nest project and would submit the report to government this fall.