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Stephen Lecce Nov 19 2025

MPP Lecce credits mining streamlining for $14B investment

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A planned $14 billion investment from Agnico Eagle Mines Limited is set to position Ontario as Canada’s leading resource hub—but Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce says even bigger ambitions are on the horizon.

“[The goal is] not to be #1 in Canada. We want to be #1 on Earth when it comes to attracting mining investment,” Lecce said. “This is how we build our country. This is how we become more self-reliant and less dependent on the craziness going on in the White House.”

Lecce credits aggressive permit reforms and accelerated approval processes for attracting this investment.

“It took an average of 15 years to build a mine in this province, whereas in Europe or even Australia, it’s taking them five to six years. We were the second slowest in the entire OECD,” he said.

OECD stands for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a 100-nation forum and knowledge hub for data, analysis and best practices in public policy.

“When we’re the second slowest on Earth, that’s not a benchmark to be proud of,” Lecce said. “We need to challenge the status quo. We have to move faster.”

Lecce said streamlining mining development doesn’t mean cutting out important environmental and labour protections, but rather imposing deadlines on the government to make decisions faster.

“We have examples of assessments sitting on some bureaucrat’s desk for 1,500 days with no sense of urgency. Either we smarten up and work faster or we have our lunch eaten,” he said.

Lecce says Canada will still have “the strictest protections for our people and our environment,” which he calls the most ethical democracy.

“I’m not saying we’re perfect, but Canada is the gold standard. I’m so proud of our country and our values. I’d rather our democratic values prevail over the authoritarian regimes in Moscow and Beijing,” he said.

Many of the new mines under development will rely on Hydro One transmission lines for power. The company offers an equity partnership model that can provide local First Nations with ownership stakes of up to 50% in these energy projects.

“This provides an opportunity for reconciliation through sharing of benefits and meaningful participation,” said Chief Clifford Bull of the Lac Seul First Nation.

Agnico Eagle will build a new mine in the Upper Beaver Gold project on Kirkland Lake, a $1 billion investment that’s set to create 800 new jobs. It will also expand the Detour Lake underground project, the largest gold mineral reserve in the country.

Stephen Lecce Mar 19 2026

Ontario investing in early-stage mineral exploration

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A commitment from the provincial government to junior mining exploration companies.

Over $10 million is being issued to 70 projects to help with exploration and development costs.

The money comes from the Ontario Junior Exploration Program, which supports early-stage exploration efforts.

The program covers up to 50% of eligible expenses.

Mines Minister Stephen Lecce calls it an investment in the next generation of mines.

“Regardless of where these 68 odd projects may end up, the signal is today their government is standing behind them, and they have a much higher success rate of getting to the market,” says Lecce.

“From exploration to extraction, that doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a lot of capital. And so on the government side, putting dollars on the table helps at the front end.”

Lecce notes that for every dollar the province provides, the private sector is contributing 2 to 2 1/2 times that, leading to an over $20 million investment in the provincial economy.

“It’s a demonstration this program works because fundamentally, we need to identify the next mine of critical minerals, rare earths, whatever it may be that helps support our prosperity and our self-reliance.”

Here are the companies receiving assistance;

Company name/Approved funding amount

100117079 Ontario Inc. – $200,000.00

1796795 Ontario Inc O/A Flyrock Capital – $200,000.00

1796796 Ontario Inc. – $200,000.00

2681891 Ontario Inc. – $15,824.52

Advanced Gold Exploration Inc. – $79,975.00

Athena Gold Corporation – $200,000.00

Axies Canada Inc. – $13,871.65

Balkan Tango Inc. – $48,250.00

Blackrock Exploration Inc. – $104,228.88

Bold Ventures Inc. – $212,500.00

Brian Berdusco – $64,525.00

Bryan Dorland – $9,624.50

BTU Metals Corp. – $200,000.00

Canadian Gold Miner Corp. – $128,837.99

Cascade Copper Corp. – $15,879.96

Clean Air Metals Inc. – $200,000.00

CMH Sustainability Corporation – $13,682.50

Conquest Resources Limited – $194,150.00

Critical One Energy Inc. – $145,690.00

Cuprum Corp. – $178,739.31

Delta Resources Limited – $200,000.00

Dryden Gold Corp. – $200,000.00

Errington Metals Inc. – $200,000.00

EV Nickel Inc. – $200,000.00

Explor Resource Inc. – $199,884.90

Fairtide Ventures Limited – $200,000.00

First Class Metals Canada Inc. – $207,500.00

George Zebruck – $35,589.86

GFG Resources Inc. – $200,000.00

Gold Finder Resources Ltd. – $42,341.76

Goldstake Explorations Inc. – $54,087.50

Imagine Lithium Inc. – $200,000.00

Inventus Mining Corp. – $215,000.00

JoBina Resources Inc. – $215,000.00

Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp. – $215,000.00

Landore Resources Canada Inc. – $215,000.00

Libra Lithium Corp. – $200,000.00

Lost Hope Mine Ltd. – $6,454.40

Michael Thompson – $57,135.00

Midex Resources Ltd. – $34,700.00

Mink Ventures Corporation – $99,949.06

Neotech Metals Corp. – $200,000.00

New Break Resources Ltd. – $200,000.00

Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. – $200,000.00

Plethora Green Energy Corp. – $215,000.00

Prospector Metals Corp. – $157,532.41

Ptx Metals Inc. – $215,000.00

Red Mountain Mining CA Ltd. – $58,205.00

Red Pine Exploration Inc. – $200,000.00

Richmond Minerals Inc. – $200,000.00

Riverside Resources Inc. – $200,000.00

Shear Gold Exploration Corp. – $27,232.50

Sierra Development Services Inc. – $39,400.00

Solstice Gold Corp. – $212,000.00

South Shore Partnership Inc. – $64,385.00

Sparton Resources Inc. – $82,207.00

SPC Nickel Corp. – $200,000.00

Sterling Metals Corp. – $215,000.00

Thunder Gold Corp. – $212,000.00

Timothy Towers – $9,360.90

Todd Fielding – $29,409.50

Tombill Exploration Limited – $108,327.48

Transition Metals Corp. – $215,000.00

Volta Metals Ltd. – $215,000.00

Wabassi Resources, ULC – $215,000.00

Whitefish Exploration Inc. – $51,192.50

Winshear Gold Corp. – $174,496.96

Xplore Resources Corp. – $122,500.00

Alvin Fiddler Mar 3 2026

Some First Nations still concerned with mineral exploration in northern Ontario

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Some First Nations are prepared to take a legal route to keep mining companies out of their traditional territories.

They say some are conducting exploration activities near communities without proper consent.

They are worried about the environmental risks.

Sachigo Lake Councillor Eugene Tait cites one firm working near his community.

“There are several concerns, reports that there are hundreds of barrels of fuel that are lying around. There’s contamination to the land,” says Tait.

“There are also concerns with the labour force there. For this exploration company to operate, they were given a permit by the province of Ontario. The province did not seek our consent to work in our territory.”

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler echoes the sentiments of TAit.

He says First Nations are not against development, but senior levels of government are obligated to follow Treaty and constitutional requirements that ensure proper consultations.

“They want Ontario and Canada and industry to respect the relationship that they have with the Crown,” says Fiddler.

“They’re here to offer solutions to industry, Ontario, to Canada, solutions that will lead to predictability and stability in the north.”

Tait says if the exploration company near his community refuses to leave, they will do what they can to have them removed, including taking a legal route.

Fiddler notes several First Nations have already gone to court over Bill 5, the legislation that helps fast-track developments such as mines.

photography of excavators at mining area

Ontario unveils new strategy toward critical materials

The provincial government is putting forward new thinking to the importance of critical minerals in Ontario.

It has released a new strategy that builds on one released in 2022.

That documented focused a lot of attention on the electric vehicle market and the need for clean technologies.

Mines Minister Stephen Lecce says much has changed since then, and the new document recognizes that.

“I think our strategy is about broadening our economic focus to include sectors like defence, aerospace and advanced manufacturing that are highly consequential both to our sovereignty, to our economy and to our workforce.”

Lecce says the province will continue to support the EV supply chain.

He says Ontario has already captured tens of billions of dollars of foreign investment.

“That’s a great success story. What we’re announcing today, and I think what we’re signalling to the world, is we’re broadening our focus.”

The new strategy also includes two minerals being added to the list of those considered critical.

Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, speaks about new Critical Minerals strategy, March 3, 2026. Government of Ontario/YouTube screen shot

Lecce says the inclusion of high-purity iron and aluminum is important to several sectors.

“High purity iron is essential when it comes to building out military and defence applications, as well as helping us electrify the electric arc furnaces we’re building in northern Ontario,” says Lecce.

“Aluminum underpins Ontario’s world-class automotive, our aerospace, and defence sectors.”

The government is inviting feedback on the document to ensure it responds to a rapidly changing world, while bolstering Canadian self-reliance, jobs and supply chains.

The Ontario Mining Association welcomes the updated strategy.

“As this work advances, sustained and meaningful engagement with industry, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders will be essential, alongside policies that firmly position mining as a strategic priority,” Priya Tandon, the Association’s president.

“Taking continued action and a whole-of-government approach to advance the mining sector will strengthen Ontario’s prosperity, security, and innovation leadership for the benefit of all Ontarians.”

There are currently 37 active mining operations in Ontario, with the majority located in northern Ontario.

Nine are base metal (nickel, copper, zinc) mines.

Ring of Fire map with proposed roads

Construction expected this summer on Ring of Fire roads

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The Ontario government is accelerating construction of roads to the Ring of Fire.

Construction on two segments will begin this summer, with others ready two to five years ahead of schedule.

Completed environmental assessments have been done for the Webequie Service Road (WSR) and the Marten Falls Community Access Road (MFCAR), putting them on track to start construction this summer.

Mines Minister Stephen Lecce says it creates the opportunity for mining companies to move more quickly on their projects.

“No longer is this a pipe dream. This is literally the infrastructure, the vision that’s coming to life as we speak,” says Lecce.

“I will not speak for the companies and the investors in the region, but we’ve now made it much easier to get to yes, to deliver a permit and to start to see extraction. We would only do so in partnership with the First Nations.”

Premier Doug Ford says he would be happier if the roads could be completed sooner.

“The quicker we do it, the more opportunities that come and more economic development for our friends in the First Nations and everyone else in the province,” says Ford.

The province also signed Joint Statements of Economic Partnership with Marten Falls, and that includes $2.5 million to support local economic activities and a commitment for training and other supports to benefit from the Ring of Fire region.

Community Partnership Agreements were signed last year.

Marten Falls Chief Bruce Achneepineskum says it will open up new opportunities for his community.

“It means a future for our youth,” says Achneepineskum.

“We need to give our youth a chance to be equal partners, to move forward in this area where there’s development, training, opportunities available and future jobs.”

“We’ve all said we want to take the lead in those opportunities and we are, and this is just one area that we’re taking the lead on,” he adds.

Webequie First Nation Chief Lorraine Whitehead sees similar benefits for her community.

“For Webequie, this is about self-determination,” says Whitehead.

“It is about ensuring that our community members are fully participating and leading any work happening on our lands, whether it be business development, construction, environmental monitoring, or engineering. Webequie must be at the center of leading and benefiting from economic growth.”

There are two other road segments.

They include upgrades to the Anaconda and Painter Lake Roads, scheduled to be ready for use by November 2030.

The Northern Road Link is scheduled to start construction in spring 2028 and open by November 2031, five years ahead of schedule.

Small piles of various minerals extracted from a rare earth mine, highlighting the diversity and importance of these resources in modern industry

Ontario ranks highest for mining prospects in Canada: report

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Ontario just ranked second in the world for mining investment, and first in Canada, in the Fraser Institute’s latest survey.

The report, released on Thursday, says strong geology helps, but clear, predictable policies are what really draws investors. They ranked 68 places based on their geology and policies that either encourage or discourage exploration to identify potential resource-rich locations, along with policies related to permit times.

Saskatchewan came third, with Ontario ahead in second place. The top location in the world, they say, is the state of Nevada in the U.S.

When considering just the policies that let developers find resources and get digging fastest, Alberta ranks in the top three across the globe, while Ontario comes fifth.

Other places in Canada could rank higher, but the group says their policies are not open to mining.

Some regions with big mineral potential are slipping because of regulatory uncertainty and land-claim disputes.

Nova Scotia ranked as the worst province in Canada on the list despite the government’s recent push for mineral exploration, which overturned previous policies intended to protect the environment.

The group says they want the survey to send a message to government that opening land up to mining is more important than simply having good resources.

with files from Natalie Chiasson

Premier Doug Ford Jan 5 2026

Premier excited about Ring of Fire road starting this year

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Premier Doug Ford is looking forward to work starting on the roads to the Ring of Fire mining area.

He says construction is poised to begin later this year.

Ford credits agreements with Marten Falls, Webequie and Aroland First Nations for helping push the project three years ahead of schedule.

The province promised to provide up to $39.5 million to each community for local infrastructure and services and to advance the Marten Falls Community Access Road and the Webequie Supply Road.

“These roads will unlock Ontario’s new mining opportunities in a region with the largest critical mineral reserves in the entire world, adding about $22 billion to Ontario’s economy and creating over 72,000 new jobs,” says Ford.

Ford also credits the federal government for helping to expedite the project.

He says his meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney put an end to the duplication of provincial and federal environmental assessments so projects could get started sooner.

“We really focused on expediting permits as quickly as possible, not duplication,” says Ford.

“We’re doing one EA. They’re doing one EA. So that stopped. Now that’s why we’re able to get the road to the Ring of Fire with cooperation and collaboration with the First Nations.”

An assessment is currently underway by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada that has committed to completing its review of the roads no later than June 2026.

Ring of Fire

Northwestern Ontario MPP questions government’s approach to Ring of Fire region

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The MPP for Kiiwetinoong says the Ford government is getting bad advice when it comes to the Ring of Fire.

Sol Mamakwa raised questions about the government’s interest in the Ontario Legislature this week.

His initial inquiry related to the cost of ads that promote the mining region.

When he failed to get an answer, he responded by saying the government’s approach does not trump First Nations rights.

“This government needs to understand. Your approach to Bill 5, your approach to Ring of Fire, and even these ads I talk about, do not trump the inherent rights of the First Nations that live on these homelands,” says Mamamkwa.

“This government’s approach will not work. Let me  be very clear on that.”

Mamakwa says the government should stop its Ring of Fire advertising campaign, calling it misleading.

Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce insists they are including First Nations in their decision-making.

He cited the legislation that aims to reduce the time it takes to get a mining project approved.

“We have made that a reality in partnership with First Nation communities because billions of dollars of investment,  the improvement of quality of life, 10,000 jobs are on the line unless we work together as legislators to get minerals on the ground,” says Lecce.

The province recently signed agreements with three First Nations in proximity to the Ring of Fire that aim to build an all-weather road to the region.

Gold Northern Queen Mine Golden Rapture

Gold-rich area east of Dryden acquired by Alberta mining firm

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Edmonton-based Golden Rapture Mining is adding to its mining properties in northwestern Ontario.

It reports it is acquiring 1,500 acres known as the Northern Queen Mine from an unnamed numbered company.

The property is east of Dryden and located between two other gold-rich areas held by Dryden Gold and NexGold.

Historical records from the Ministry of Energy and Mines indicate gold and silver were produced during the late 1800s.

The area has never been explored using more modern exploration methods.

“We are looking forward to exploring this underexplored property using modern methods and technologies,” states a company release.

Golden Rapture also has properties that it is exploring in the Nestor Falls and Geraldton areas.

Stephen Lecce Oct 29 2025

Frontier Lithium selected to go through One Project, One Permit process

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The provincial government is giving Frontier Lithium the ability to fast-track its northwestern Ontario lithium project.

The PAK Lithium project is the first to undergo review under the One Project, One Permit process.

Frontier has identified north of Kenora one of the largest lithium deposits in North America, having first explored the area in 2013.

The company proposes shipping the mineral to a proposed lithium conversion facility in Thunder Bay before sending it to markets.

Lithium is used in a wide array of applications, ranging from industrial applications, medicinal supplements and energy storage.

“This is such an important milestone for the people of Canada and Ontario and of course for the territorial right holders,” says Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.

“We’re talking about an industry that’s adding $13 billion to the economy, that’s helping to create tens of thousands of jobs.”

An upcoming socioeconomic study from Frontier indicates that the project could generate up to $1.5 billion in gross domestic product, $124 million in tax revenues and create more than 2,000 full-time jobs during construction.

Once operational, it is projected to further contribute $182 million annually to the economy, $11.6 million in annual tax revenues, and support nearly 1,000 long-term positions.

Chief Executive Officer Trevor Walker is pleased that their company is one of the first to go through the new approval process.

“By cutting permitting timelines and strengthening coordination across ministries and Indigenous communities, Ontario is providing the certainty for companies like ours, the need to invest, plan, and deliver responsibly,” says Walker.

“The One Project, One Process framework gives us the clarity to move forward with confidence and the responsibility to do it right.”

Lecce also announced the intention to accelerate new transmission infrastructure in the Red Lake district, with involvement from First Nations.

Frontier Lithium says the proposed twinning of transmission lines between Dryden and Red Lake will strengthen grid capacity and enable the electrification of new mining projects such as theirs.

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