About the program

The Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) helps junior mining companies finance early exploration projects. These projects help boost mineral exploration, growth and job creation in the province, particularly in northern and Indigenous communities.

Eligible junior mining companies can receive:

  • up to $200,000 per project to cover 50% of eligible costs
  • up to $10,000 to cover 100% of eligible costs per project supporting Indigenous employment and business opportunities

Program streams

Critical minerals stream

Projects under the critical minerals stream are projects where a critical mineral, identified in Ontario’s critical minerals list, is the primary or secondary mineral exploration target.

Projects where the primary mineral exploration target is a critical mineral (primary target projects) will be considered for funding on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once primary target projects are selected, projects where the secondary mineral exploration target is a critical mineral (secondary target projects) will be considered for remaining funding on a first-come, first-served basis.

If funding under the critical minerals stream is fully allocated, any remaining primary or secondary target projects will automatically be considered under the exploration stream on a first-come, first-served basis.

Exploration stream

Projects under the exploration stream include:

  • projects where the exploration target is a mineral not included in the list of critical minerals
  • any primary target projects or secondary target projects that are being considered under the exploration stream

All projects in the exploration stream will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • be a non-producing junior mining company with a market capitalization of up to $100 million (or a comparable value if you are a private company) as of February 16, 2023
  • be registered on the Ontario Business Registry
  • submit an application that proposes to undertake grassroots mineral exploration in Ontario
  • provide proof that the applicant has the funds to cover 100% of total project costs
  • provide a copy of a valid certificate of insurance which includes general commercial liability coverage at a limit not less than $2 million per occurrence
  • be enrolled in the Mining Lands Administration System and hold the necessary mining lands tenure required to carry out the project
  • have a valid exploration plan and/or permit issued under the Mining Act before work proceeds and for the duration of the project (where required)
  • have the approval of the plan/permit and/or tenure holder to apply for OJEP funding and carry out the proposed project

Apply

The September 6, 2023 to September 27, 2023 intake period is now closed.

We will assess and approve applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

For complete details on the program, application process and what happens after you apply, read the OJEP program guidelines.

Funding recipients

The following recipients received OJEP funding as part of the first two intakes:

Company nameApproved funding amount
5007223 Ontario Inc.$150,000
BTU Metals Corp.$172,000
Canadian Gold Miner Corp.$200,000
Manitou Gold Inc.$200,000
Noble Mineral Exploration Inc.$200,000
Northstar Gold Corp.$57,605
Pelangio Exploration Inc.$150,000
Prosper Gold Corp.$200,000
Red Pine Exploration Inc.$200,000
Transition Metals Corp.$71,857
Tyko Resources Inc.$200,000
VR Resources Ltd.$200,000
Company nameApproved funding amount
Angus Gold Inc.$200,000
ALX Resources Inc.$200,000
Canadian Gold Miner Corp.$200,000
Copper Lake Resources Ltd.$200,000
Cross River Ventures Corp.$95,890
Delta Resources Ltd.$200,000
Dynasty Gold Corp.$200,000
EnviroMine Inc.$200,000
EV Nickel Inc.$200,000
Exiro Minerals Corp.$200,000
First Class Metals Canada$200,000
Golden Goliath Resources$169,926
Goldseek Resources Inc.$30,722
Griftco Corp.$66,035
Harfang Exploration Inc.$72,204
Hemlo Explorers Inc.$200,000
Heritage Mining Ltd.$200,000
Insight Exploration Inc.$93,492
International Lithium Corp.$200,000
Kesselrun Resources Inc.$200,000
Manitou Gold Inc.$200,000
Mantra Exploration Inc.$36,733
MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd.$200,000
Midex Resources Ltd.$103,574
New Break Resources Ltd.$200,000
Pavey Ark$63,473
Platinex Inc.$80,000
Red Pine Exploration Inc.$200,000
Sparton Resources Inc.$10,574
SPC Nickel Corp.$200,000
Transition Metals$144,071
Ursa Major Minerals Inc.$161,781
Val d’Or Mining Corp.$89,437
VR Resources Inc.$200,000
Warrior Gold Inc.$196,728
Whitefish Exploration Inc.$58,150

OJEP funding has been committed to the following recipients as part of the third intake:

Company nameApproved funding amount
ALX Resources Corp.$200,000
Angus Gold Inc.$200,000
Ashley Gold Corp.$41,113
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.$200,000
Brady Mining$112,460
Canada Critical Resources Corp.$200,000
Canada One – Abitibi East$144,459
Canada Silver Cobalt Works Inc.$104,386
Canadian Gold Miner Corp.$192,250
Delta Resources Ltd.$200,000
E2Gold Inc.$200,000
EGR Exploration Ltd.$200,000
EnviroMine Inc.$155,588
EQN Canada Inc.$200,000
EV Nickel Inc.$200,000
Exiro Minerals Corp.$200,000
Falcon Mining Inc.$200,000
Goldshore Resources Inc.$200,000
Hemlo Explorers Inc.$200,000
Heritage Mining Ltd.$200,000
Imagine Lithium Inc.$200,000
Inventus Mining Corp.$176,800
JoBina Resources Inc.$200,000
Kenorland Minerals Ltd.$200,000
Kesselrun Resources Ltd.$200,000
Kingsview Minerals Ltd.$197,460
Lican Exploration Inc.$200,000
Lost Hope Mine Ltd.$8,246
MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd.$200,000
Melkior Resources Inc.$200,000
Midex Resources Ltd.$165,900
Mink Ventures Corp.$77,405
Money Money Money$27,494
New Break Resources Ltd.$70,000
Newpath Resources Inc.$200,000
Noble Mineral Exploration Inc.$200,000
Nortec Minerals Corp.$200,000
Platinex Inc.$200,000
Prospector Metals Corp.$200,000
Prosper Gold Corp.$200,000
Red Pine Exploration Inc.$200,000
Rich Copper Exploration Corp.$48,105
Rift Lithium Inc.$71,263
Rockridge Resources Ltd.$200,000
Sky Gold Corp.$200,000
Solstice Gold Corp.$200,000
SPC Nickel Corp. o/a “SPC Metals”$200,000
Storm Exploration Inc.$64,125
Thunder Gold Corp.$148,500
Transition Metals Corp.$200,000
Tyko Resources Inc.$200,000
VR Resources Ltd.$200,000
Weekapaug Lithium Subco Inc.$100,000
Whitefish Exploration Inc.$46,650