Building Mines Faster
Province’s new framework will accelerate critical mineral development
As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is cutting red tape and streamlining approvals to build mines faster, making Ontario and Canada’s economy more resilient and self-reliant. Today, Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce was in Sudbury to highlight the benefits of the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act for northern communities. This legislation would create a new “One Project, One Process” framework for advanced exploration and mine development projects, reducing government review times by at least 50 per cent and getting shovels in the ground in the Ring of Fire and in mining projects across Ontario.
“Protecting Ontario's economic sovereignty starts today, as we rapidly accelerate responsible critical mineral development and move toward a new reality of self-reliance,” said Minister Lecce. “This plan will end the overly bureaucratic and duplicative approval process, where it can take upwards of 15 years to open a mine in Ontario. By moving away from a piecemeal system to a new and integrated approach that gets shovels in the ground, we are fully realizing our economic potential. Our government's plan will position Ontario as the most attractive justification to invest, create jobs, and expand responsible resource development.”
Current permitting and authorization processes for mining and major infrastructure projects require navigating a maze of multi-ministry, overlapping approvals. The new “One Project, One Process” approval model will streamline all approvals into one process, coordinated by a dedicated Mine Authorization and Permitting Delivery Team, led by a team lead within the Ministry of Energy and Mines. This approach will balance speed, while maintaining robust environmental standards and the province’s obligations to Indigenous communities.
“Our government was given a strong mandate to protect Ontario and build a stronger, more competitive and self-reliant economy,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “This legislation will deliver a clear and predictable environment for businesses and communities that want to build and unleash the economic might of Ontario and all that the north has to offer.”
The government also unveiled the Integrated Permitting Plan to significantly reduce the number of permits and introduce first-of-its-kind performance metrics and binding service standards to reduce overall project timelines. If the proposed legislation is passed, 12 critical mineral and gold projects will be able to immediately take advantage of these bold measures to get their product out of the ground and into market faster.
“The province’s commitment to accelerating responsible development through the One Project, One Process approach is good news for Greater Sudbury, where mining is not just an industry—it’s a cornerstone of our economy,” said Mayor of Sudbury Paul Lefebrve. “Certainty and speed in permitting are essential to unlocking our full critical minerals potential. Greater Sudbury is ready to work alongside the Province to build a complete, made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain—from exploration to processing—creating jobs, attracting investment, and strengthening Canada’s economic sovereignty.”
By simplifying the permitting process, Ontario is strengthening its position as a top destination for mining investment. This will make it easier for companies to plan, hire, and execute projects in northern communities like Sudbury. This means more good-paying jobs across Northern Ontario, stronger local supply chains and increased economic activity in the region.
