Intent for the plan was to develop Canada's access for extractive mineral industries distributed in currently inaccessible regions.
Original proposals highlighted future population centres of growth in Fort Smith, Flin Flon, Thunder Bay, Timmins and Labrador City.
[8] The plan was publicized through a series of conferences held by Rohmer's organizations, the Mid-Canada Development Corridor Foundation and Acres Limited.
[4] While an initial report by Acres Limited suggested Canada may be receptive to planned communities in colder northern climates without arable soil, but as historian Ken Coates notes, the hope that large populations of Canadians may acclimatize to colder climates is a persistent obstacle to developing new northern population centres.
The report outlined an evidence-based vision of development based on the then-availability of transportation infrastructure, climactic regions, soil quality and muskeg prevalence, mineral and water availability, hydroelectric potential and existing settlements, among others.
The report predicted that air travel would form a component of the corridor, especially the use of short-takeoff small aircraft and helicopters, and was generally bullish on VTOL capabilities in aircraft, cargo submarines to bypass icepack, hovercraft development and in helicopter cargo capacity.
[2] The plan envisioned many smaller towns, but imagined large population centres in Fort Smith, Flin Flon, Thunder Bay, Timmins and Labrador City, as well as Whitehorse and the Noranda District/Val-d'Or.