The provincial government has launched what it calls a first-ever minerals strategy to position Ontario as a global leader.
Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry Greg Rickford made the announcement Thursday at the Impala Canada Lac Des Illes Mine north of Thunder Bay.
The plan will unleash our mineral potential and support a made-in Ontario electric vehicle supply chain.
The five year roadmap is intended to better connect mines in the north with the manufacturing sector in the south.
The strategy focuses on six priorities:
-Enhancing geoscience information and supporting critical minerals exploration
-Growing domestic processing and creating resilient local supply chains
-Improving the regulatory framework to make the mining industry more globally competitive
-Investing in innovation, research and development
-Building economic development opportunities with Indigenous partners
-Growing labour supply and developing a skilled labour force
The government is also investing $24 million over three years in Ontario’s Junior Exploration Program and another $5 million over two years in a new critical minerals innovation fund that will support research for extraction and processing in the north.
Premier Ford says, “It’s a plan that will attract investment to create good jobs in our auto and mining manufacturing sectors. It’s a plan that’s connecting resource industries and workers in northern Ontario to the future of clean steel and electric vehicles.”
Ford adds our region will play a critical role in the plan.
“We have the natural resources. We have the best workers on the absolute planet right here and we’re creating the conditions for companies to invest and jobs to flourish.”
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford states, “We believe there is an incredible opportunity to connect our northern and southern economies to build a made-in-Ontario supply chain for emerging technologies such as electric vehicles. Our government is building an advanced manufacturing supply chain that will create economic opportunities for Ontarians across the province, including Indigenous communities. We want the world to know that Ontario is ready to supply our allies with a reliable source of critical minerals.”
Today, we announced our Critical Minerals Strategy—our government’s blueprint to connect industries, #resources and workers in our province’s north to the future of #manufacturing in the south.
We are embracing the future by investing and planning for the jobs of tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/BD31O1kIAN
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 18, 2022
Today, Premier @fordnation, Minister @VictorFedeli and I announced Ontario's first-ever Critical Minerals Strategy. Together, we're positioning Ontario as a global hub for responsibly-sourced minerals needed for electric vehicles and innovative technology https://t.co/ZjXnQHcPZr pic.twitter.com/v2F2yG9eiQ
— Greg Rickford (@GregRickford) March 17, 2022
