Q: What else could Ontario…

Q: What else could Ontario do to prepare communities to be ready for, and actively participate in, exploration and development of critical minerals?

A: We recommend exploring the following two themes to support community participation:

1. Research strategic supports to Indigenous infrastructure, capacity, and access to capital

What can the Strategy can do:
• The Strategy can have a role in supporting public infrastructure that improves connectivity and reduces costs.
• Endorse resource revenue sharing between government and Indigenous communities for all critical minerals projects.
• Support education and training initiatives that could be developed in partnership with governments, Indigenous communities, and industry.
• Provide for business supports and incentives for Indigenous communities to develop and operate local businesses will move the lines of business and business opportunity through the Indigenous communities instead of past them.

2. Research Red Tape Reduction for Inter-Ministerial Regulatory Compliance

• Timelines for approvals from Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Natural Resources required for mineral exploration and development are out of line with timelines associated with the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development, and Mines. An environmental compliance approval for waste disposal takes in excess of one year from the receipt of a complete application. This puts load burden for any pre-financing on the Indigenous partner(s) equally to the investor/agency.

Recommendation: Look for strategies to reduce these timelines, including the introduction of legislative timelines.