Ontario Government Announces $10 Million for Mineral Exploration Program in 2025
The Ontario government announced on July 3, 2025, that it will invest up to $10 million in the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) to support early-stage mineral exploration. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the program is intended to help junior mining companies and licensed prospectors cover eligible exploration and development costs.
The funding and new program features matter to Ontario communities because the province's mining sector contributes about $14.4 billion to Ontario’s GDP and supports around 74,000 jobs, based on government figures. The program aims to increase participation from small prospectors and Indigenous communities, and to encourage more local exploration and job creation.
For the 2025 intake, the Ministry of Energy and Mines stated that two new features have been added to OJEP. Licensed Ontario prospectors can now apply for up to $50,000 per project through a newly introduced Prospector Stream. With additional Indigenous Participation Support, this amount can reach $65,000 for prospectors. The ministry also increased Indigenous Participation Funding from $10,000 to $15,000 per project, which is added to core program funding. For 2025, OJEP will cover up to 50 percent of eligible exploration and development expenses, and junior mining companies may receive up to $215,000 per project, including Indigenous Participation Support. Applications for this intake will be accepted online from July 3 to July 31, 2025, and funding will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the previous OJEP round supported 80 junior mining companies, with 68 projects focused on critical minerals. In addition to OJEP, the province has announced a $500 million investment to create a Critical Minerals Processing Fund, meant to support projects that expand mineral processing in Ontario. The government is also investing nearly $3.1 billion in loans, guarantees, grants, and scholarships to support Indigenous participation and partnerships in Ontario’s critical minerals supply chain. The province’s deposits of critical minerals include those in the Ring of Fire area, about 5,000 square kilometres in size and located roughly 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.
Those responding to the announcement included Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, who stated that the expanded support through OJEP is intended to create economic opportunities for First Nations communities. Charla Robinson of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce welcomed the expansion, noting its support for early exploration and Indigenous partnerships in Northwestern Ontario. Priya Tandon, president of the Ontario Mining Association, said that supporting early exploration and increasing funding for Indigenous communities are key to mine development. William MacRae, president of the Ontario Prospectors Association, said that adding a funding stream for prospectors supports individual mineral discovery work.
Industry representatives also described the program’s impact. Stefan Sklepowicz, CEO of Kirkland Lake Discoveries, said that OJEP funding allowed the company to prepare for new drilling projects. Wesley Whymark, president of Inventus Mining Corp., described OJEP as an ongoing source of support for early-stage companies. Marc Sale, CEO of First Class Metals PLC, stated that financial support from OJEP enabled further exploration of the company’s Ontario properties.