Funding will grow Ontario’s mining sector, protect jobs and boost economic resilience in the face of U.S. tariffs
The Ontario government is securing the province’s economic future by investing more than $7 million to launch a new intake of the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) to help stimulate investment in critical minerals exploration, mining development, production and processing of domestically sourced critical minerals. As part of its plan to protect Ontario, this funding supports the government’s work to unleash the economic potential of critical minerals, build more secure supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals in the face of economic uncertainty from U.S. tariffs.
“With global demand for critical minerals soaring – and new U.S. tariffs targeting Canada’s mining and manufacturing sectors – Ontario is taking action to accelerate growth and innovation in Ontario’s mining sector,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “Through the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund, we are putting Ontario first, building a made-in-Canada supply chain that attracts investment and creates good-paying jobs here at home.”
With the new call for applications open from July 23, 2025, to October 1, 2025, the fund will accelerate the research, development and commercialization of made-in-Ontario technologies in Ontario’s mining sector by supporting projects in four priority areas:
- Innovative techniques for deep exploration and mining
- Recovery of minerals
- Battery supply chain
- Mining innovation
This investment builds on the $20 million invested through the CMIF since its launch in November 2022, supporting more than 29 Ontario-based projects. As part of the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, the government announced an additional $5 million over two years in the CMIF to stimulate investment in the critical minerals supply chain and support the research, development and commercialization of innovative technologies, techniques and processes.
“Ontario is doubling down on its efforts to protect our province from economic uncertainty and secure our future as global leaders in critical minerals,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “This landmark investment in the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund will accelerate the creation of an Ontario-made critical minerals supply chain that grows our economy, creates good-paying jobs, and builds resilient communities today and for future generations.”
As part of its Critical Minerals Strategy, the province continues to make historic investments in Ontario’s mining sector to support Ontario’s emerging end-to-end critical minerals supply chain that will support the province’s manufacturing needs, with critical minerals mined and refined in Ontario, by Ontario workers.
Quick Facts
- Applications can be submitted through Transfer Payment Ontario
- CMIF contributes a maximum of 50 per cent of eligible project costs up to $500,000 per project.
- Ontario’s mining sector is a significant economic driver, contributing approximately $14.4 billion to Ontario’s GDP annually and supporting around 74,000 direct and indirect good-paying jobs.
- The government is also investing $500 million to create a new Critical Minerals Processing Fund to provide financial support for projects that accelerate the province’s critical mineral processing capacity and made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain.
- The province is investing nearly $3.1 billion in loans, guarantees, grants and scholarships that would support Indigenous participation, partnership and ownership in Ontario’s critical mineral supply chain.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
