Mining

Building the green economy – Ontario’s critical minerals and environmental stewardship

As more countries transition to green economies and governments accelerate the adoption of new technologies and renewable energy, the demand for reliable, sustainable and ethical sources of critical minerals will grow. Ontario’s mining industry produces and processes mineral resources that are the building blocks of everything from computer drives, renewable energy technologies, electric vehicle batteries, medical devices, nanotechnology and much more.

Ontario has established itself as a jurisdiction that promotes social and environmental responsibility, making it attractive for mining companies and investors with a commitment to favourable Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.

Who’s here

• Glencore PLC
• KGHM International Ltd.
• Newmont Corp.
• Pan American Silver Corp – Lake Shore Gold Corp.
• McEwen Mining Inc.
• Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.
• Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
• Alamos Gold Inc.
• Harte Gold Corp.
• New Gold Inc.
• Barrick Gold Corp.
• Evolution Mining Ltd.
• Vale S.A.
• Impala Canada Ltd.
• Ferromin Inc.
• Pure Gold Mining Inc.
• Argonaut Gold Inc.
• Equinox Gold
• IAMGOLD

Great talent from great institutions

Nineteen of Ontario’s 22 universities and 24 colleges have world-class mining, geology and engineering programs. Explore the map to see where our programs are located.

Exploring Ontario’s opportunities

A leader in innovative geoscience information

The Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) is the leading provider of reliable, credible, accessible geoscience data, information and expert knowledge in Ontario. This helps to attract mineral sector investment, guide efficient and effective mineral exploration and inform government policy priorities.

Here are just some examples of OGS products and services available to the mining and mineral exploration sector:

• Geology Ontario: An online portal housing Ontario Geological Survey publications and maps, drill hole data, assessment files and mineral deposit inventory data.
• OGSEarth: Provides access to a wide range of geoscience data in a format that can be viewed using user-friendly geographic information programs such as Google Earth.
• OGS Focus: A free, publicly accessible tool that allows anyone to find historical mineral exploration data from areas available for mineral exploration and claim registration.
• Resident Geologist Program (RGP): Serves mineral sector clients across the province through a network of eight field offices. Services include collecting and maintaining geological data, conducting property visits, monitoring exploration activity, providing expert geological knowledge and developing recommendations for exploration.

Supporting junior exploration companies

The Federal Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Program provides a 15 per cent tax credit to investors in the flow-through shares of mineral exploration companies working in Canada. Ontario provides an additional permanent Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share five per cent Tax Credit for companies exploring in the province. The program allows tax credits and tax deductions for exploration to “flow through” to investors purchasing the shares. A $1,000 investment in flow-through shares for exploration in Ontario could cost as little as $375 after federal and provincial tax credits and deductions.

The Ontario government recognizes that early exploration is key to making promising geological discoveries that can lead to future mines, including discoveries of critical minerals. Through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP), junior mining companies can apply for up to $200,000 in funding per project to cover 50 per cent of eligible costs.

Helping mining companies manage energy costs

The Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP) helps Northern Ontario’s largest industrial electricity consumers offset their electricity costs, sustain jobs and maintain competitiveness. The NEAP provides electricity rebates to qualifying participants as they achieve greater electricity efficiency by committing to the development and implementation of a comprehensive Energy Management Plan.

Ontario has a plan to reduce electricity costs on average for medium and larger industrial commercial employers through a Comprehensive Electricity Plan. On January 1, 2021, the province removed certain costs from industrial electricity bills, resulting in average savings of 14 per cent for qualifying metal ore mining employers.

Fostering Indigenous partnerships

Ontario promotes strong relationships and partnerships between Indigenous communities, industry and government through initiatives like the Aboriginal Participation Fund, which offers opportunities supporting community capacity to participate in mineral exploration and mine development activities. Broad sharing of knowledge and resources, enhanced communications and information-exchange at relationship tables, and collaborative identification of economic opportunities ranging from mining-related activities to initiatives such as resource revenue sharing, all combine to create a progressive environment for Indigenous participation in the mining sector.

Helping to build a cutting-edge mining innovation sector

Ontario actively works to bring industry, different levels of government, academic institutions, researchers and commercialization entities together to build collaboration opportunities and partnerships. The Province has helped build a culture of innovation through targeted initiatives and investments, such as industry roundtables and working groups, marketing and investment attraction supports, and targeted funding in mining innovation, including through new and improved Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) programs. The NOHFC helps build strong and resilient local economies by making targeted investments in northern businesses, community organizations and municipalities.

Cutting red tape in the sector

The Ontario government has taken significant steps to cut red tape, bring clarity to its regulatory framework and improve processes, including:

• Establishing the Mining Lands Administration System, an easy-to-navigate digital system for proponents to register and manage mining claims
• Clarifying and streamlining the regulatory process for mining projects requiring multiple permits or approvals from more than one Ontario ministry or the federal government
• Updating the Mining Act to establish timeline requirements to create business certainty around closure plan amendments.