The provincial government is giving Frontier Lithium the ability to fast-track its northwestern Ontario lithium project.
The PAK Lithium project is the first to undergo review under the One Project, One Permit process.
Frontier has identified north of Kenora one of the largest lithium deposits in North America, having first explored the area in 2013.
The company proposes shipping the mineral to a proposed lithium conversion facility in Thunder Bay before sending it to markets.
Lithium is used in a wide array of applications, ranging from industrial applications, medicinal supplements and energy storage.
“This is such an important milestone for the people of Canada and Ontario and of course for the territorial right holders,” says Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.
“We’re talking about an industry that’s adding $13 billion to the economy, that’s helping to create tens of thousands of jobs.”
An upcoming socioeconomic study from Frontier indicates that the project could generate up to $1.5 billion in gross domestic product, $124 million in tax revenues and create more than 2,000 full-time jobs during construction.
Once operational, it is projected to further contribute $182 million annually to the economy, $11.6 million in annual tax revenues, and support nearly 1,000 long-term positions.
Chief Executive Officer Trevor Walker is pleased that their company is one of the first to go through the new approval process.
“By cutting permitting timelines and strengthening coordination across ministries and Indigenous communities, Ontario is providing the certainty for companies like ours, the need to invest, plan, and deliver responsibly,” says Walker.
“The One Project, One Process framework gives us the clarity to move forward with confidence and the responsibility to do it right.”
Lecce also announced the intention to accelerate new transmission infrastructure in the Red Lake district, with involvement from First Nations.
Frontier Lithium says the proposed twinning of transmission lines between Dryden and Red Lake will strengthen grid capacity and enable the electrification of new mining projects such as theirs.
