The demand for critical minerals is driving many companies to Ontario.
Exploratory activities are taking place across northwestern Ontario.
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and Mines, Chris Scott, says while there is great interest by the province in critical minerals, there is still support for other discoveries.
“I think what we’re trying to do is identify where the opportunities are and where industry is also looking to go,” says Scott.
“We’re not trying to pick winners and losers as much as we’re trying to expand overall production and also capture more of the value chain here in Ontario for processing.”
Scott says the province is also supporting new mining technologies that help with the exploration and potential mining of the finds.
He says the demand for critical minerals is at a high level, with many countries now reliant on China.
“I think we’ve got a great business case to stand up and show some intestinal fortitude and leadership because if it’s not us, then who’s it going to be to provide the world with these critical minerals that are in everything from our batteries, cell phones.”
Not all of the exploration will lead to a new mine.
But Scott says it is creating a lot of buzz about what the potential could be.
“It’s really a new dawn, and there’s a lot of support within industry, within research and academia, and even with our officials inside the government that we’re all on the same team right now, Team Canada, and we’re rolling in the same direction and more to come.”
