Province establishes Mining Working Group

The province has established a Mining Working Group whose task is to reduce red tape and attract major new investments.

Premier Doug Ford and Greg Rickford, the provincial minister of energy, Northern development and mines, made the announcement on March 4 in Toronto during the 2019 conference of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC).

"Ontario's mining sector drives so much of the province's growth," Ford said in a statement.

"We need to cut red tape so we can attract global investment, expand the industry and create more and better jobs in Ontario."

The group, chaired by Rickford, includes industry representatives from mining and exploration companies, prospectors and Indigenous business organizations.

Members will provide the province with input on important issues affecting the minerals sector, while identifying opportunities to ensure future growth, competitiveness and prosperity.

"For too long, Ontario's minerals sector has been mired in lengthy regulatory approvals and other barriers to investment," Rickford said.

"By convening this working group of industry leaders, our government is sending a strong signal to the world that Ontario's mining industry is open for business and open for jobs."

Members include:

• Renaud Adams, director, president and CEO, New Gold
• Carol Banducci, executive vice-president and chief financial officer, IAMGOLD
• Brent Bergeron, executive vice-president of corporate affairs and sustainability, Goldcorp
• Marc Boissonneault, head of global nickel assets, Glencore
• John Burzynski, president, CEO and director, OSISKO
• Garry Clark, executive director/chair, Ontario Prospectors Association
• Alan Coutts, president and CEO, Noront Resources Ltd.
• Daniella Dimitrov, partner, Sprott
• Catharine Farrow, director, Franco Nevada
• J.P. Gladu, president and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
• Chris Hodgson, president, Ontario Mining Association
• Tony Makuch, president and CEO, Kirkland Lake Gold
• Mike McCann, head of mining and milling for North Atlantic Operations, Vale
• Marvin Pelletier, executive vice-president and chief development officer, Carbonix, and president, Maawandoon Inc.
• Stephen Roman, chairman, president and CEO, Harte Gold
• Greg Rickford (chair), minister of energy, Northern development and mines

The group held its inaugural meeting on March 4.

According to the province, Ontario’s mining industry creates more than 26,000 direct and 50,000 indirect jobs.