Ontario Chamber report calls for urgent action to secure Ontario’s critical minerals advantage

(TORONTO — December 9, 2025) — Ontario needs to make policy changes, regulatory reforms and strategic shifts to achieve its ambition to be a leader in the global race for critical minerals, according to a new report from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC).

In its new report, Mining 2030: Unearthing Ontario’s Potential, the OCC identifies a narrow window for action amid global competition and recommends reforms to strengthen Indigenous partnerships, consolidate permitting processes, reduce investment risk, improve energy affordability and reliability, and develop long-term Northern infrastructure and workforce strategies.

“The Ontario Chamber welcomes today’s strong provincial and federal leadership on critical minerals, and there’s more to do to ensure Ontario is fit to race and win against global competitors,” said Daniel Tisch, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Investors still face too much risk, employers struggle to find talent, and mines take decades to develop. The window for action is narrow, but the solutions are clear and the rewards are rich for Ontario’s economy.”

Ontario’s $23.8 billion mining economy is a catalyst for climate action, advanced manufacturing, national security and Indigenous economic reconciliation. While both the provincial and federal governments have invested in critical mineral supply chains and regulatory modernization, and have committed to advancing nation-building projects, persistent challenges still deter investment and delay development.

The report highlights mounting pressures, including high and volatile energy prices, rising project costs, regulatory complexity, infrastructure gaps, and a shortage of skilled labour, particularly in Northern communities. Only through strategic, coordinated action can Ontario realize its potential and secure leadership in global critical minerals supply chains.

Key recommendations:

• Strengthen Indigenous partnerships by establishing a single, authoritative consultation list and making community partnership costs eligible for mining tax treatment to support clarity, collaboration and long-term shared benefits.
• Consolidate regulatory processes by expanding the Ontario government’s “One Project, One Process” principle to all mining projects, bringing all required permits into a centralized digital platform and implementing fixed two-year decision timelines.
• Lower investment risk and enhance fiscal competitiveness through a new, stackable exploration tax credit and risk-sharing tools, such as contracts for difference, to reduce critical minerals price volatility.
• Improve energy affordability and reliability by pursuing industrial rate mitigation and indexing the Northern Energy Advantage Program to inflation, to support electrification and competitiveness in the North.
• Develop a long-term Northern infrastructure and workforce strategy, modelled on Quebec’s Plan Nord, to advance housing, health care, childcare and transportation investments, including Highways 69, 144, 11 and 17, while launching a provincewide campaign to attract talent to modern mining careers.

“Mining may be out of sight for most Ontarians, but it powers our daily lives – from the lights in our homes to the cars we drive,” added Tisch. “We invite Ontario’s business community, government, and Indigenous partners to work with us on the reforms needed to secure a prosperous economic future for our province.”

The OCC thanks its partners and members of its Mining Policy Council for their contributions to this roadmap for a more competitive and sustainable mining sector.

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce   

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC convenes, mobilizes and empowers business and local chambers in pursuit of its purpose: to bring inclusive and sustainable prosperity to Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities.

For more information, please contact:    

Andrea Carmona
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
andreacarmona@occ.ca | Mobile: 647-234-0255

PARTNER QUOTES

“Agnico Eagle welcomes the call for continued streamlining of the regulatory processes, improved energy affordability, enhanced programs to address the skilled worker shortage, supports to strengthen Indigenous participation in the mining sector, and housing and infrastructure investments in NorthernOntario. We look forward to working with the Chamber and the Government on these important initiatives” – Andre Leite, Vice President, Ontario, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

“At IAMGOLD, we recognize that responsible, innovative, and accountable mining is essential to Ontario’s prosperity and global leadership. The recommendations put forward by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Mining Policy Council will drive meaningful transformation across the sector for the benefit of all Ontarians. Through collaborative action, environmental stewardship, and authentic Indigenous partnerships, we are committed to building a mining sector that attracts investment, delivers lasting value, advances reconciliation, while safeguarding our shared environment.”  –  Krista Maydew, VP External Affairs, IAMGOLD Corporation

“As Co-Chair of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Mining Council and Executive Director of MineConnect, I welcome this report’s clear call for urgent action. Ontario has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to solidify its critical minerals advantage. To seize it, we need predictable permitting, modernized infrastructure, and a coordinated approach that strengthens the thousands of mining supply and service companies that power this sector.” – Marla Tremblay, Executive Director, MineConnect

“Mining 2030 is about realizing potential: by tackling longstanding regulatory and permitting challenges, we have the ability to unlock billions in economic value. PwC is proud to contribute insights on global best practices that can help Ontario provide greater certainty for investors and accelerate project delivery sustainably. Our research demonstrates that these reforms can deliver real economic gains for Ontario, up to $2.2 billion in GDP and 8,500 jobs annually, positioning the province as a leader in responsible mining.”  – Gemma Stanton-Hagan, Director, Economics & Policy, PwC