Some junior mining companies say they are left out from Ontario's critical minerals strategy
CBC
Some junior mining companies say they haven't benefited from Ontario's critical minerals strategy, which aims to build a homegrown supply chain for electric vehicles and their batteries.
The strategy would connect northern Ontario's mineral resources – which include important metals like nickel, cobalt and lithium – to battery and vehicle manufacturing in the south.
Johnathan More, the chairman and CEO of junior miner Power Metals Corp, said companies like his don't get any support from the province to explore mineral deposits that could become productive mines.
Power Metals Corp is exploring lithium, cesium and tantalum deposits near Cochrane, in northeastern Ontario.
"There's no assistance from the government at all doing what we do," More said.
"They may play the card that they're trying to assist exploration companies to get to the finish line and make discoveries and bring these to production, but that is a false statement. There is no help from the government whatsoever in the province of Ontario."
More said if there was more government support he wouldn't have to look for investments from other regions, including Europe and China.
The Chinese company Sinomine Resource Group had a five per cent stake in Power Metals Corp. But in early November the federal government ordered the Sinomine to sell those holdings over growing national security concerns.
More said his company will be able to move ahead, even after losing that $1.5 million investment from the Chinese company.
As for support from the province, there is the Ontario Junior Exploration Program, which helps finance early exploration projects with up to $200,000 to cover half of the eligible costs, and up to $10,000 to support Indigenous employment and business opportunities.
So far, 29 junior mining companies have received funding through the program.
In a statement, Ontario Minister of Mines George Pirie said the province has invested $24 million in the Ontario Junior Exploration Program, which includes $12 million for a new critical minerals funding stream.
Vance White, the president and CEO of Noble Mineral Exploration, said his company did receive $200,000 from the program, which helped pay for some exploratory drilling which had "mixed" results.
Noble Mineral Exploration owns a number of properties in northeastern Ontario with nickel, gold and cobalt deposits.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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