Q: What are some actions…

Q: What are some actions Ontario could consider to achieve these objectives?

A1: Support Public Infrastructure, develop business incentives and revenue sharing, support training and education.

· The Strategy can have a role in supporting public infrastructure that improves connectivity and reduces costs. Develop and fund a multi-year plan to build all-season road infrastructure connecting Ontario’s Indigenous communities in the north to the rest of the province.
· Provide for business supports and incentives for Indigenous communities to develop and operate local businesses that will move the lines of business and business opportunity through the Indigenous communities instead of past them.
· Support education and training initiatives that could be developed in partnership with governments, Indigenous communities, and industry.
· Endorse resource revenue sharing between government and Indigenous communities for all critical mineral projects.
· Ontario to develop a special incentive program for companies exploring for critical minerals. Perhaps rebate back a portion of exploration expenditures.
· Provide education and awareness building programs targeted to communities focused on critical minerals and their role in the future economy, along with opportunities for local participation.
· Develop geological expertise within the OGS supporting the understanding of the occurrence and exploration of critical minerals. Run focused geoscience programs in cooperation with companies actively exploring for critical minerals.

A2: Develop a Critical Minerals/Elements Matrix

Assessment criteria example:

1. Is the element/mineral at the upstream of a value chain that will support Ontario’s economy and assist in building Ontario’s new low-carbon economy.

2. Supply
a. Is Canadian / North American demand growth likely to exceed supply. (Now, Future)
b. Is global supply at risk or susceptible to disruptions (political, economic, geographic, geological or environmental factors) (multiple producers, stable countries, ethical sourcing and production, etc.)

3. Ontario production
a. Is Ontario a producer. Industry Expenditure/Profitability ratio.
b. Are there active exploration projects with positive preliminary economic assessments (production in medium term (5-10 years).

4. Can Ontario facilitate the growth of the supply chain.

Note: To be considered a “Critical Mineral / Element” each of the 4 questions must have a positive response. For questions 2 and 3 only one of a} or b} must be positive.

We also recommend the government establish 5-year assessment updates This will support a government CM strategy monitoring program.

A3: Research Key Red Tape Regulatory Issues:

• Remove the prohibition on mine development from the Far North Act.
• Link the issuance of Mining Leases directly to Closure Plan approval. Upon completion of appropriate exploration, a company could apply for and receive an acknowledgement that their project qualifies for a Mining Lease. The Mining Lease would be issued upon the filing of the Closure Plan. The requirements of a Mining Lease would be incorporated into the requirements for a Closure Plan.
• Look for strategies to reduce these timelines, including the introduction of legislative timelines.
• Rebate back carbon-tax charged to companies working to produce the critical minerals required for Ontario’s future low-carbon economy.

A4: Research innovative, low overhead ways to reinvest and provide capital and knowledge sharing to industry:

· Create a fund using carbon-tax revenue to support the research and development of critical minerals.

· For every critical mineral a supply chain opportunities map needs to be developed with each player in the supply chain identified.
· Organize a “workshop or discussion table” for each of the supply chains to include the key businesses involved. Keep the groups small, for example at the upstream end include only companies with production or positive preliminary economic assessments. Identify gaps.
· Create a Critical Minerals industry research and development fund. Ensure members of the supply chain could access to address technological challenges.
· Assist industry, academia, and governments to build consortiums to work together through the supply chain ensuring coordination of efforts where commercialization is the main objective.
· Develop incentives to attract investment and capacity.