Improving Ontario’s Mining Industry
McGuinty Government Supports Prospectors, Landowners And Local Economies
"Our continuing commitment to improving services to the mineral development community is one of the reasons Ontario is considered a preferred destination for investment." Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forests
Improvements to Ontario’s mining sector will benefit both prospectors and private landowners, while helping strengthen Northern and rural economies across the provinces. This includes:
- A new Electronic Assessment System that will give mineral developers the option to electronically file assessment work and technical reports, and receive approvals and other correspondence. Ontario is one of the few jurisdictions with this capability.
- Digitizing, indexing and putting online more than 46,200 claims maps archived over more than a century. This will help mineral developers who routinely access historical maps and records to determine the location of past claim staking activities to find new mineral deposits.
- A paper staking system in southern Ontario. Beginning this summer, prospectors staking in most parts of southern Ontario will be able to submit an application form describing the land to be claimed rather than physically staking it. This will make claimstaking a less intrusive process in the south.
- Providing owners of mining lands who do not use them for mining purposes with the option of applying for exemption from the Mining Lands Tax.
More changes to modernize the Mining Act will be phased in over the next few years and will result in clearer rules and regulations, streamlined processes and a more balanced approach to help keep the mining industry competitive and responsive.
Promoting mineral development is part of the Open Ontario plan to create jobs and opportunities across the province.
QUICK FACTS
- About 30 per cent of all exploration and mineral deposit appraisal dollars invested in Canada will be spent in Ontario, more than any other province. Exploration spending in Ontario exceeded $800 million in 2010.
- With 40 mines currently operating in the province, Ontario is Canada’s largest producer of non-fuel minerals, and a global mining force.
- More than 100,000 people across the province are employed in mineral exploration, production and the mining equipment and services sector.
- From March 6-9, Ontario government representatives are attending the Prospectors and Developers of Canada Annual Convention to promote Ontario’s rich mineral resources and superior investment climate to more than 20,000 investors and industry representatives from around the world.
