Two independent reports, funded in part by Ontario, highlight the significant economic impacts -- including job creation -- of the province's mineral sector activity, and provide advice on how to maximize this impacts.

The corporation would develop, construct, finance, operate and maintain infrastructure supporting access to strategic resources in the Ring of Fire.

With reduced mineral demand and commodity prices at the forefront of business news, the Ontario budget to be tabled next Thursday will want to look at the competitiveness of Ontario's mining industry.