The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is leading a new initiative to help keep the province at the forefront of the global minerals industry.
Ontario’s Mining Future 2030 — launched on March 2 during the annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada — will advocate for policies that will “help the sector to capitalize on growth and position Ontario as the preferred jurisdiction for responsible mining,” the Chamber said.
“As global demand for critical minerals grows, Ontario has an opportunity to lead. But since our competitors are moving fast, we must move faster,” said Daniel Tisch, the Chamber’s president and CEO, in a news release.
“By bringing together stakeholders from across Ontario’s mining sector, we will generate evidence-based recommendations to unlock investment, enhance regulatory certainty, strengthen partnerships between industry, Indigenous communities and government, and address workforce shortages.”
The newly formed initiative includes the Mining Policy Council, which will look for “key opportunities, challenges, and recommendations to enhance the industry’s global competitiveness and sustainability.”
Comprised of representatives of mining companies, Chambers of Commerce, and industry organizations, the council’s core areas of interest include:
- workforce development: ensuring a resilient and available workforce to support mining sector expansion;
- regulatory approvals: addressing regulatory approval delays and opportunities to de-risk mining projects;
- access to capital, tax and incentives: attracting investment through financial tools and incentives;
- energy security and infrastructure: ensuring affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for mining projects and driving the clean energy transition; and
- Indigenous partnerships: exploring diverse approaches to fostering strong partnerships with Indigenous people, nations and communities.
