The province is moving quickly on a budget promise.
A half-million dollars is being set aside to support the processing of critical minerals in Ontario.
The Critical Minerals Processing Fund is to assist with the construction or expansion of processing plants.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy says it avoids the need to ship minerals mined in Ontario elsewhere for refining.
“It will build up our domestic processing capacity, ensure that the minerals mined in our province are processed and smelted right here by Ontario workers, for Ontario businesses and for the world,” says Bethlenfalvy.
Mines Minister Steven Lecce says it will lead to more jobs and investment in the province.
“I’m grateful to get this fund unlocked, to put these dollars to use, to attract more investment and to retain investment, yes in Ontario’s north, but really right across Ontario,” says Lecce.
The government also sees the fund complementing its efforts to unlock critical minerals in the Ring of Fire.
