The Ontario government released its updated Critical Minerals Strategy at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention today. Minister Stephen Lecce announced “Fortifying Ontario’s Economy: A Plan to Accelerate Responsible Resource Development,” which overhauls the province’s existing strategy launched in 2022.
The provincial government added high-purity iron and aluminum to its critical minerals list, marking the first expansion since the list’s creation. Ontario now includes 35 critical minerals on its list. The government seeks public feedback on the updated strategy to address changing global conditions.
“In the fight for Canadian jobs, we transformed one of the slowest mining permitting systems to one of the fastest, emerging in the top two globally for attracting mining investment,” Stephen Lecce, minister of energy and mines, said. “Our new Critical Mineral Strategy will send a signal to the world: Ontario has a serious plan to build mines faster and create more jobs here at home. To better protect Ontario’s vital manufacturing workers – from defense, automotive and aerospace – Ontario is also adding high-purity iron and aluminum to the Critical Minerals List. Ontario’s new strategy will accelerate momentum, unlock opportunity, and attract the job-creating investments that will power growth across the province.”
The original five-year strategy focused primarily on electric vehicle markets and clean technologies. Officials cite escalating geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, U.S. tariffs and rising trade protectionism as reasons for the update. The new strategy aims to reduce foreign dependence and protect Ontario’s industries and workers.
The updated strategy outlines six key priorities. These include planning for growth to reduce exposure to global shocks, building a future-ready workforce, delivering regulatory certainty and faster permitting, supporting exploration efforts, building partnerships with Indigenous communities, and scaling up innovation to attract global capital.
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