Wyloo’s proposed underground copper, nickel and platinum mine in the Ring of Fire will not be subject to a federal impact assessment, despite the unified calls of more than half a dozen First Nations.

The Perth-based company wants to build the Eagle’s Nest mine about 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont. in the mineral- and carbon-rich Ring of Fire region. Premier Doug Ford paved the way last spring with the passage of the controversial Bill 5 and removed the requirement for a provincial environmental assessment of the mine.

Neskantaga First Nation submitted a formal designation request under the Impact Assessment Act in late October. Six neighbouring First Nations supported this request: Attawapiskat, Fort Albany, Ginoogaming, Moose Cree, Nibinamik and Peawanuck.

But on Feb. 20, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada decided the project does not warrant a federal impact assessment because the project still “must be carried out in compliance with applicable federal and provincial legislative mechanisms” and the company has been “actively consulting” with Indigenous groups. Agency president Terence Hubbard acknowledged the project will cause adverse effects, but said there are ways to address this other than through an impact assessment, including federal and provincial legislation like the Species at Risk Act, Fisheries Act and Mining Act.

The decision was a disappointment for the First Nations.

“Every First Nation that commented supported our request. Ottawa chose to ignore us,” Neskantaga First Nation Chief Gary Quisess said in a press release. “This decision puts our river, our homelands, and our Treaty rights at risk. We will not allow mining companies or governments to decide the future of the Ring of Fire without us.”

Neskantaga First Nation is assessing next steps in collaboration with neighbouring First Nations, legal counsel and community members, according to the press release. The mine poses a risk to the region’s carbon-rich peatlands, the Attawapiskat watershed and Neskantaga’s constitutionally protected treaty rights.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has not referred the Eagle’s Nest mine to the Major Project Office for fast-tracking, but has indicated unlocking mining projects in the Ring of Fire is a priority and previously told Canada’s National Observer that several mines and roads in the area are under consideration for fast-tracking.

Along with Bill 5, Ford moved Ring of Fire development forward by signing an agreement in October with Webequie First Nation to speed up construction of all-season access roads to unlock mining in the region.

Early this year, the former CEO of Wyloo Canada, Kristan Staub, was appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (a subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation). It manages the $10-billion federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, which supports Indigenous groups in acquiring equity ownership in major projects.

— With files from Matin Sarfraz & John Woodside