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 2023-2024 intake period takes place from February 16 to March 16, 2023 for projects with eligible activities starting on or after April 1, 2023.

The deadline for applications is March 16, 2023, at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

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

The following recipients received OJEP funding as part of the second intake:

Company nameApproved funding amount
Angus Gold Inc.$200,000
Canadian Gold Miner Corp.$200,000
Conquest Resources Ltd.$200,000
Copper Lake Resources Ltd.$200,000
Cross River Ventures Corp.$101,804
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$171,250
Goldseek Resources Inc.$45,869
Griftco Corp.$71,075
Harfang Exploration Inc.$200,000
Hemlo Explorers Inc.$200,000
International Lithium Corp.$200,000
Kesselrun Resources Inc.$200,000
Manitou Gold Inc.$200,000
MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd.$200,000
Midex Resources Ltd.$108,500
Mistango River Resources Inc.$200,000
New Break Resources Ltd.$200,000
Pavey Ark$63,800
Platinex Inc.$80,000
Red Pine Exploration Inc$200,000
SPC Nickel Corp.$200,000
Transition Metals$200,000
Ursa Major Minerals Inc.$200,000
Val d’Or Mining Corp.$99,619
VR Resources Inc.$200,000
Warrior Gold Inc.$200,000
Whitefish Exploration Inc.$58,150

Contact us

For more information, contact OJEP@ontario.ca.