How will the mining industry be affected by the ‘One Project, One Process’ initiative?

This government believes that we can do better when it comes to Ontario’s regulatory systems in terms of approval times and the certainty that we can provide investors. We previously were the second-slowest jurisdiction in the OECD for permit timelines. We were averaging up to 15 years to build a mine in the province, double the time of other provinces, and I believe we can do better. My goal, and through the new ‘One Project, One Process’ framework, is to make us the fastest in the G7 in approving permits to build new mines. We are proudly unleashing the full economic potential of our mineral resources with the goal of lowering the average permitting time by 50%.

Has the federal government been supportive of Ontario’s mining sector?

When it comes to resources and energy, we are taking a ‘Team Canada’ approach. The federal government proved this by announcing a Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund in its most recent budget to help us deliver more downstream jobs to Canadians. We share a common objective of unlocking our economic potential and keeping as much of the resource supply chain within Canada.

We will be working with the federal government to cut duplicative red tape. One example of this is the environmental assessment on the building of roads in the Ring of Fire. With China’s dominance in REEs in both production and processing becoming an increasing concern, working together to ensure a steady and responsible supply of minerals and metals is key for our security. Our first step in this will be the acceleration of a samarium plant that will be built in Kingston, Ontario. This is not just a benefit for Ontario but for all our G7 allies.

What would you say to those worried about trade uncertainty with the US?

We are unapologetically going to defend Canada’s resource economy and workers. We are proud of these historic sectors that have defined Ontario. Through trade and market diversification we can secure new export markets, including countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Ontario is also receiving interest from Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

80% of our trade is currently with the US; to safeguard jobs, we are looking to change this. By doubling down on a faster and smarter approach to regulatory reform we will protect jobs and act as a signal that investment is coming.

What led to the decision to select the PAK lithium project as the first to benefit from ‘One Project, One Process’?

The province will need more power, and this was one of the reasons behind naming Frontier Lithium’s PAK property as the first designation of ‘One Project, One Process’. The project will bring C$11 billion in value to Canada, and was accompanied by the announcement of a C$830 million transmission line to the north that will provide more power to the region. The beauty of the new Ministry of Energy and Mines is that it can give us a more holistic view of how to generate a complete mining supply chain, with northerners at the center of this.

PAK has one of the highest lithium grades in North America and is the only project on the continent with a mine and downstream capacity. This embodies the self-reliance that this government is promoting in Ontario. We have a series of projects that will be announced as part of the ‘One Project, One Process’ initiative in the coming year.

Can you comment on your plans for the Ministry of Energy and Mines in 2026?

A major priority will be to commence the road to the Ring of Fire, helping to unlock 28,000 km2 of multi-commodity deposits, with much more to be discovered. We will be delivering on our Critical Mineral Processing Fund to get shovels in the ground and build out a supply chain in Ontario with world-leading refining capacity. Our goal is to bring more investment into Ontario than ever before to catalyze the province. We continue to prioritize equity partnerships with First Nations communities to unlock value for people and make sure that future generations are better off.