Mining Policy Council
Mining is one of Ontario’s most important economic drivers, contributing over 75,000 jobs and $11 billion in GDP. Toronto is the global mining finance and expertise hub, home to almost half of the world’s publicly listed mining companies. Mining activities continue to foster economies of scale and drive regional economic development, spurring job creation and growth across Northern Ontario. In 2014, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) published a landmark study, Beneath the Surface: Uncovering the Economic Potential of Ontario’s Ring of Fire, which estimated an untapped $25 billion of economic opportunity. Since then, interest in the region has grown as federal and provincial governments seek to catalyze development through Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy and the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy.
These strategies aim to bolster Canada’s EV supply chain capacity by ensuring that raw materials mined in the north can quickly and efficiently be transported to industrial facilities in the south. To seize this opportunity, Ontario must foster a policy and regulatory environment that capitalizes on the sector’s growth. It must also ensure the province has the workers, capital, energy transmission and distribution, infrastructure, and social license from communities necessary to build producing mining assets by 2030. As we work towards the net-zero transition, the OCC is partnering with industry experts on a policy initiative, “Ontario’s Mining Future 2030”.
Policy & Advocacy Priorities:
- De-risk mining projects by identifying opportunities to streamline and make regulatory approvals more efficient
- Strengthen the talent pipeline to ensure a resilient workforce is available to support mining sector expansion over the long term
- Exploring diverse approaches to fostering strong, tailored partnerships with Indigenous communities to advance economic reconciliation in mining exploration and development.
Founding members of the Council include:
- Alastair Rhoades, Head of Corporate Development, Green Technology Metals
- Andre Leite (Co-chair), Vice-President, Operations (Ontario), Agnico Eagle Limited
- Brad Ryder, Director, Government Relations, Agnico Eagle Limited
- Charla Robinson, President, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce
- Daniel Bornstein, Partner, Business Law, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
- David Galea, Vice-President, Business Improvement, Impala Canada
- Giancarlo Drennan, Vice-President, Practice Lead (Ontario), Sussex Strategy
- Keitha Robson, Chief Administrative Officer, Timmins Chamber of Commerce
- Krista Maydew, Vice-President, External Affairs, IAMGOLD
- Marie Litalien, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
- Marla Tremblay (Co-chair), Executive Director, MineConnect
- Michael McMillan, Partner and Managing Director, PRA Communications
- Priya Tandon, President, Ontario Mining Association
- Rebecca Thompson, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Alamos Gold
- Sydney Oakes, Director, Indigenous Relations and Public Affairs, Canada Nickel Company
Click here to learn more about the OCC’s ongoing advocacy work.
For more information on how to join the Council, please contact Mason Ainsworth at masonainsworth@occ.ca.