EDITORIAL: First Nation anger right

First Nations leaders have every right to be upset at Wednesday’s Ring of Fire announcement.

After years of beng told they’d be consulted on major decisions, Cliffs Natural Resources sidestepped the concerns of Aboriginal leaders and named Sudbury the home of its new $1.8 billion ferrochrome processing plant.

First Nationls leaders, including Aroland’s Sonny Gagnon and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose, are furious.
Waboose has called on Aboriginal leaders to reconsider support of the project, which could include a $600-million all-weather road from Nakina to the Ring of Fire chromite mine.

For Aboriginal Affairs minister Kathleen Wynne to say the consulting can now begin should be viewed as a slap in the face to all?First Nations communities affected by Cliffs’ decision.

Mayor Keith Hobbs has said for weeks, if not months, that Sudbury has been the front-runner and Timmins,?Greenstone and Thunder Bay were never seriously being considered by the U.S.-based Cliffs.

It appears he was right, despite Cliffs VP Bill Boor saying Wednesday that it was a tough decision.

In the end, Sudbury is likely the better choice.?It’s just how that decision was arrived at that stinks a little bit.