TORONTO — Premier Kathleen Wynne is appealing directly to Prime Minister Stephen Harper for federal money to help develop the mineral rich Ring of Fire area in northern Ontario.

Wynne wrote Harper saying Ontario needs federal help with the estimated $2.25-billion cost of infrastructure needed to support mining development, including all-season roads to the remote region 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

Wynne points out Ottawa has funded infrastructure projects in other provinces, including Alberta's oil sector, a transmission line in British Columbia and the Lower Churchill hydro project in Labrador.

Ontario is ready to make "a substantial contribution" to the infrastructure for the Ring of Fire, and Wynne told Harper she expects the federal government "to come to the table with matching funds."

She says it would be a good investment because the economic opportunity from the Ring of Fire is estimated to be in the $60-billion range.

The province has also announced the creation of a new development corporation for the Ring of Fire to bring together private and public partners, including First Nations, mining companies and both levels of government.