According to a May 2025 report by the Environmental Defence Canada, mining claims in Ontario’s ecologically sensitive Ring of Fire region have skyrocketed by 66% over the past three years, reaching nearly 30,000 active claims. Located in the mineral-rich James Bay Lowlands, this remote area is home to vast deposits of chromite, nickel, copper, and other critical minerals essential for electric vehicle batteries and green technologies. However, the surge in exploration — primarily driven by the global demand for clean energy transitions — has alarmed environmental groups and Indigenous communities. They warn that hasty development threatens carbon-rich peatlands, crucial wildlife habitats, and the delicate hydrology of the region, often referred to as Ontario’s “lungs.”
The Neskantaga, Eabametoong, and other First Nations in the region have raised concerns over the lack of free, prior, and informed consent, citing risks to their water sources, fishing grounds, and traditional territories. The Ontario government, meanwhile, continues to promote the region as a critical asset in Canada’s transition to net-zero, supporting road-building projects that could open vast swaths of wilderness to industrial activity. As environmental and legal battles escalate, experts caution that without robust oversight and meaningful Indigenous collaboration, the push for minerals in the Ring of Fire could become a major climate and human rights flashpoint in Canada’s green economy. More