The Ontario advantage

Ontario’s rich mineral resources make us a global leader in mining and exploration. Our mining industry is a major economic engine that supports local economies in every corner of the province. Mineral production in Ontario supports:

  • 29,000 direct jobs
  • 46,000 indirect jobs associated with mineral processing and mining supply and services

We understand the changing perspective of the investment community, including meeting our environmental, sustainable and governance (ESG) objectives. We are committed to creating a safe and profitable investment climate that helps investors meet their ESG goals.

Mineral activities

  • High level information on the exploration activities in Ontario such total exploration spending highlights, spending by mineral type and mining lands activity.
  • High level information on the production activities in Ontario such as total production value highlights, production details of select minerals and capital market facts.

Minerals and geoscience

Ontario is a leader in innovative geoscience information. If you explore in Ontario, you’ll have access to a wide range of free, online information. Our online resources include publications, maps, drill hole data and more.

GeologyOntario

GeologyOntario is an online database of our publicly available digital data. You can download the data or search using an attribute-based search.

OGSEarth

OGSEarth has geoscience data that can be viewed with user-friendly geographic information programs like Google Earth.

Map of Ontario geology

Ontario is home to a diverse geology with vast regions of high mineral potential waiting to be explored.

Bedrock geology from Ontario Geological Survey (2011)

Bedrock geology from Ontario Geological Survey (2011)

View a larger version of this map (PDF)

Commodities

Learn more about our commodities.

Critical minerals

Several critical minerals are produced in Ontario, including:

  • nickel
  • copper
  • zinc
  • platinum group elements
  • cobalt
  • selenium
  • tellurium
  • indium

Other critical minerals were produced in the past, have exploration or development potential, such as:

  • barite
  • chromite
  • fluorspar
  • graphite
  • lithium
  • magnesium
  • niobium
  • phosphate
  • uranium

Ontario’s varied geology provides numerous critical mineral exploration opportunities.

In March 2022, Ontario released its first-ever Critical Minerals Strategy to help drive investment, reduce red tape and create jobs, while maintaining public health and safety and respecting the environment.

Indigenous partnerships

We collaborate on resource development projects to help advance reconciliation and encourage Indigenous communities, industry and other partners to work together towards a shared understanding of local projects.

Read our:

We offer initiatives that support skills training, capacity-building and improved economic development opportunities, such as:

Claim registration

You can register a mining claim online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We register and manage mining lands through the online Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS).

To access MLAS, you must first hold a valid prospector’s licence and create an account.

With MLAS you can:

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    view active unpatented mining claims

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    register a new mining claim

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    manage your mining claims

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    buy or renew your prospector’s licence

    Mining supply and services

    Hundreds of Ontario companies supply Ontario’s mining industry. Many Ontario companies have successfully grown into competitive global suppliers of leading-edge technologies.

    These suppliers:

    • meet the high-quality standards set by the Ontario mining industry
    • provide excellent services to clients worldwide
    • service markets across Canada, the United States and throughout the world

    Mining companies operating in Ontario

    Some of the world’s largest mining companies operate in Ontario. Ontario produces approximately:

    • two-fifths of Canada’s gold production
    • one-third of Canada’s nickel production
    • one-quarter of Canada’s copper production
    • three-quarters of Canada’s platinum group metals production

    These companies benefit from a range of provincial support programs, including programs to help manage the energy costs associated with mineral production and processing.

    Tax incentives and business supports

    Through tax incentives and targeted business supports, we help companies across all phases of the mining sequence leverage opportunities to invest in and promote their mineral and mining projects.

    Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP)

    The expanded NEAP helps Northern Ontario’s largest industrial electricity consumers better manage electricity costs and create and sustain jobs in Northern Ontario to maintain global competitiveness.

    Ontario Junior Exploration Program

    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.

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) provides financial assistance to projects big and small, rural and urban, that stimulate recovery, growth, job creation and skills development.

    Flow through share tax credit

    Flow through share tax credit provides eligible individual shareholders with a refundable tax credit of 5% of eligible Ontario expenses.

    Mining tax exemption

    We offer mining tax exemptions for new mines and for major expansions on existing, non-remote mines.

    Critical Minerals Innovation Fund

    The Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) provides funding to projects that help strengthen Ontario’s critical minerals sector.

    Our team is always available to help foreign companies understand investment and development opportunities in Ontario’s mining sector. Email us at invest.north@ontario.ca to explore the possibilities.

    Upcoming events

    We participate in global mining conferences throughout the year. Check back often for updates on where you can find us.

    Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup Conference: January 23–26, 2023

    AME Roundup is an opportunity for the mineral exploration industry to connect, exchange ideas and inspire new exploration projects.

    Ontario will be attending the AME Roundup Conference. Visit us at the Ontario booth (#1010).

    Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Conference: March 5–8, 2023

    PDAC is the world’s premier technical mineral exploration and mining convention. It attracts over 25,000 participants from more than 135 countries.

    Ontario will be attending the PDAC 2023 conference. Visit the Ontario pavilion (#637).