TIMMINS — As part of its 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, the provincial government is committing $3.1 billion to support Indigenous participation and leadership in the development of Ontario’s critical minerals supply chain — a move aimed at unlocking long-term economic growth in the North and strengthening reconciliation through partnership.
The announcement, delivered by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, outlines a comprehensive investment strategy that includes loan guarantees, capacity-building grants, and new scholarship opportunities. Officials say the funding will not only accelerate the province’s mining and processing capabilities but ensure Indigenous communities are full participants in — and beneficiaries of — the sector’s growth.
“By investing to unlock and process these minerals here in Ontario in partnership with Indigenous communities, we can make Ontario the top global hub of critical mineral development and protect our economy, workers and communities for decades to come,” said Bethlenfalvy.
The province will triple the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program to $3 billion, expanding eligibility beyond electricity to include mining, energy, pipelines, and resource development projects. The Indigenous Participation Fund will receive $70 million over four years to help communities meaningfully engage in regulatory processes related to exploration and mine development. Additionally, $10 million in scholarships will be made available over three years to support First Nations postsecondary students pursuing careers in resource development.
“We’re preparing the next generation for careers both on and in the ground,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships. “This is about long-term prosperity built through partnership.”
“This is more than just a mining investment; it’s a blueprint for a stronger, more prosperous north,” added Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.
The investments are expected to directly benefit Indigenous communities and key economic centres in Northern Ontario, including Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, and North Bay — positioning the province to become a global leader in the extraction and processing of minerals essential to electric vehicle production, clean tech and advanced manufacturing.
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