First Nation says it could ratify a deal with the province to four-lane Highway 69 by June

If all goes to plan, a deal could be ratified as early as June between the Ontario government and one of several First Nations in an area south of Sudbury where the four-laning of Highway 69 needs to be finished.

Henvey Inlet First Nation Chief Wayne McQuabbie said his community has been in negotiations with the province since 2008 about four-laning the highway.

A 68-kilometre stretch of the highway north of Parry Sound, on the way to Sudbury, has not yet been expanded to four lanes.

The section includes reserve land from Henvey Inlet and two other First Nations – Shawanaga First Nation and Magnetawan First Nation.

McQuabbie said an exchange of land with the province, and compensation to the First Nation, was a long-standing point of contention that had to be worked out.

"We're surrendering 31.3 acres of the reserve lands [for the highway]," he said. "In exchange we're receiving 100 acres of land."

He said there are still a couple of details to work out with the province before the band council can bring the deal to its members for ratification.

In November, Shawanaga First Nation Chief Adam Pawis told CBC News his community had reached an "amicable agreement" with the provincial government to move the project forward.

Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria said on CBC's Morning North that the province has invested around $1 billion into the four-laning of Highway 69.

"The premier, myself and our team, just about two months ago met with many of the local First Nation partners to help reach a deal so we could move this highway forward as well," Sarkaria said.

"We want to get the shovels in the ground as soon as possible, but we want to work with our local First Nations to reach those agreements and to continue moving forward."