By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY — Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has released a draft regulation proposing criteria for designating “special economic zones” under the Protect Ontario legislation it passed in June. The proposal was “informed by consultations with Indigenous communities across Ontario,” and its release is intended “to support ongoing consultations,” according to the government. The Ring of Fire — 8,000 square kilometres of mineral-rich land about 500 km north of Thunder Bay — is one place the government is likely to declare a special economic zone for expedited economic projects. In a government news release on Oct. 7, Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli said special economic zones “are a critical tool to expedite approvals and move projects of strategic importance forward faster,

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