A new permitting process is in place for Ontario’s mining industry.
Companies can apply to have exploration and mine development projects designated under the province’s new “One Project – One Process” framework.
Mines Minister Stephen Lecce says it commits the province to approving permits within 2 years.
“If we want to be strong, we want to create jobs, we want our kids to have that opportunity the generations past have, we have to move on with a program, with a policy framework that actually incentivizes capital to move to the province, not flee,” says Lecce.
Lecce says under the previous system, it was taking up to 15 years to approve a mine.
He says that it held back investment, job creation and access to minerals wanted by others.
Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction, says with the ‘One Project, One Process’, the government is taking a coordinated approach to speed up approvals.
“This means faster approvals, less duplication and a coordinated whole of government approach that cuts government review times in half,” says Khanjin.
The government says the new approval process will also benefit First Nations.
Karen Restoule, Director of Indigenous Affairs at Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says the new process will improve consultation between mining companies and First Nations.
“For First Nations project partners, (it) means fewer fragmented conversations, more opportunity to be heard clearly and comprehensively across government,” says Restoule.
“It opens the door to more constructive dialogue. Regulators can now focus on listening to understand rather than just check boxes and respond with coordinated action instead of scattered replies.”
Lecce says ten mining companies are already involved in the new process.
A spokesperson says the identity of those companies would be revealed at a later time.
