After a season break, The Clearcut is back with a new mini series: Playing with Fire. Hosted by Jan Sumner, this series takes a closer look at Ontario’s Ring of Fire and the growing questions surrounding mining, critical minerals, Indigenous rights, and environmental protection.

In this episode, Jan is joined by Anna Baggio, Conservation Director at Wildlands League, to kick off the conversation. Together, they unpack what the Ring of Fire actually is, why this region matters, and what’s at stake when development is pushed forward in one of the world’s most carbon-rich peatland ecosystems. From the remoteness of the region to the political hype around critical minerals, this episode lays the foundation for the bigger questions this series will explore.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Ring of Fire is an extremely remote region in Northern Ontario with no road access
• The region sits within globally significant peatlands that store massive amounts of carbon
• The Ontario government has heavily promoted the Ring of Fire as a major critical minerals opportunity
• The area currently has exploration activity but no proven mine development
• Jan and Anna explore whether Ontario could pursue critical minerals in ways that better align with climate, communities, and ecosystems
  
  
  

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Be sure to subscribe to The Clearcut so you don’t miss the rest of the Playing with Fire mini series. If you’re watching on YouTube, like this video, leave a comment below, and share your thoughts on the future of mining, critical minerals, and environmental protection in Ontario.

Help us continue sharing independent conversations about forests, wetlands, mining, and the future of Ontario’s wild spaces by supporting the show here → https://www.buzzsprout.com/2249817/support

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CHAPTERS

00:00 The Clearcut Returns

00:30 Introducing the Series

00:55 Journey to the Ring of Fire

06:31 How Remote It Really Is

09:19 Why This Region Matters

12:22 Mining vs Climate

13:35 The Government Push

17:19 Big Questions About the Project

19:32 Peatlands and Carbon

22:29 Other Mining Options

25:17 The Numbers Debate

31:07 What’s Actually There

32:58 Environmental Oversight

35:36 Indigenous Communities

38:23 A Project They Support

41:29 What’s at Stake

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STAY CONNECTED

Follow Jan →

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-l-sumner

Follow Anna Baggio →

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-baggio

Follow Wildlands League →

Website | https://wildlandsleague.org/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/wildlandsleague

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/WildlandsLeague

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

https://wildlandsleague.org/theclearcut/

Join Jan Sumner and Kaya Adleman for this special episode as they look back on all they've unpacked on the Clear Cut. It's a bittersweet one as this is Kaya's last time as co-host before the show goes on hiatus.

Topics include: misguided industry responses to fire suppression, deceptive practices, greenwashing and pathways to a reimagined future for forestry management in Canada.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kaya for taking us on an exploratory journey of Canada's forests and forestry practices.

Thank you for listening!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

https://wildlandsleague.org/theclearcut/

We return this week to our conversation with Executive Director Katie Morrison and Conservation Science & Programs Manager Josh Killeen of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s (CPAWS) Southern Alberta Chapter.
Last week they painted the landscape of Alberta’s headwaters for us. We learned about the incredible value of this region to the wildlife, species, and many communities (across the continent!) who depend on them. This week we explore some of the challenges these lands are facing in greater depth. How does the underlying approach to forest management make it difficult for protection? What is the government’s role? And what are the opportunities, particularly unique to this landscape, that could result in better outcomes for all?

Learn more about Josh and Katie's work on the CPAWS Southern Alberta Chapter's website and support a future for the Highwood here.

Make sure to check out the show notes on the podcast webpage for more links and helpful resources.

You can help this community grow by sharing the podcast with your friends.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

https://wildlandsleague.org/theclearcut/