Ontario is making some of the largest infrastructure investments in its history, with billions committed to energy, transit, and resource projects, including a new $3 billion Indigenous Opportunities Fund. The value of those investments will be determined not just by what gets built, but by how.
As Michael Fox, President of Indigenous Community Engagement, put it:
“It’s about not just critical minerals, critical infrastructure, but actually critical relations with the Indigenous communities. You’re not building mines. You have to build communities. You have to build capacity. You have to build all the pieces that support that, and that’s the difference of this era.”
That principle anchored our Building Together: Indigenous Business and the Infrastructure Opportunity summit, which brought Indigenous leaders, policymakers, energy providers, and infrastructure developers together to align priorities and accelerate progress.
Partnership from the outset
Experience shows that projects move faster and deliver better outcomes when Indigenous communities are involved from the beginning. Early co-development builds the trust and alignment needed to carry projects through to completion.
Procurement is a lever for inclusion
Conventional procurement practices have excluded too many Indigenous-owned firms. A greater focus on Indigenous inclusion will diversify supply chains and create long-term business opportunities.
Indigenous workforce development is critical
Ontario’s build-out will depend on skilled labour. Expanding scholarships, training, and apprenticeships for Indigenous workers is essential to closing talent gaps and ensuring communities benefit directly.
Equity participation delivers lasting value
Models where Indigenous communities share in ownership and revenues, as seen in energy and transmission projects, strengthen partnerships and ensure intergenerational benefits.
Permitting and governance must be modernized
Accelerating national-scale infrastructure requires streamlined approvals and governance frameworks that embed Indigenous priorities and reduce unnecessary delays.
$61.8 million
Ontario’s investment in Geraldton’s Main Street Rehabilitation Project, the first physical step in the Corridor to Prosperity and gateway to the Ring of Fire.
$3 billion
Funding committed through the Indigenous Opportunities Fund to support equity participation in major energy and resource projects.
5,000 square kilometres
Size of the Ring of Fire region, containing significant deposits of nickel, copper, platinum, and chromite.
$10 million
Funding announced in Ontario’s 2025 Budget for Indigenous postsecondary scholarships to expand pathways into skilled trades and infrastructure careers.
“First Nations are not just participants in these projects, they are leaders. From the very beginning, our government has been clear that partnership is not optional. It is the only way we will unlock the potential of the Ring of Fire and build infrastructure that delivers prosperity for communities now and for generations to come.”
— The Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation
"The Ring of Fire isn’t just about building a mine. It’s about building communities. By partnering with First Nations from the very beginning, we are creating legacy infrastructure that delivers clean energy, better social and economic opportunities, and prosperity for generations to come."
— Chief Cornelius Wabasse, Webequie First Nation
"When First Nations are owners, the conversation changes. Trust changes. Risk sharing changes. Outcomes change. This isn’t about checking a box; it’s about building projects that last. It sets a benchmark for what partnership should look like in Ontario — long-term, stable, and built on respect. That’s what makes these projects resilient."
— Skye Anderson, Director of Indigenous Partnerships, Ontario Power Generation
"The run-up to construction is where you actually build the relationship. That’s where you figure out who’s doing what, what the expectations are, and how decisions will be made. That’s where you decide whether you’re doing this together or not. If you don’t take the time then, you’ll pay for it later. If you do, the project has a much stronger chance of success."
— Desiree Norwegian, Manager, Indigenous Relations, Aecon
"Ontario is making some of the largest infrastructure investments in its history. Billions are being committed to energy, transit, and resource projects. But investment alone will not determine whether these projects succeed. The real measure will be how they are built — and whether Indigenous partnership is embedded from the very beginning. That is what will make these projects stronger, more resilient, and ultimately more competitive."
— Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade
Thank you to our partners, who helped make the this event possible.
