Thank you, Madam Speaker. It’s a pleasure to lead off the third reading debate for our government’s proposed Building More Mines Act, 2023. I want to indicate that I’ll be sharing the government’s leadoff time with the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Mines.

The bill that we’re debating today supports our government’s goal to build a stronger mining sector to capitalize on the global need for critical minerals. We find ourselves at a critical point in time for the global economy. The world needs minerals, and they are looking for the place to get them. That place is right here. Ontario is blessed with some of the richest mineral-rich deposits in the world—minerals like nickel, cobalt and lithium that are used in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.

However, geopolitical events and conflict, as well as the stranglehold that other nations have on the minerals market, have exposed weakness in the global supply chain for these essential minerals. It is during these uncertain times that governments like ours must lead from the front to create the conditions to attract investment, optimize competitive advantages and enable Ontario’s minerals sector to do what it does best: build mines—because governments don’t build mines; companies do. Those global challenges have presented a generational opportunity that puts Ontario at the centre of the solution.

Speaker, we stand ready to meet this demand for a reliable, sustainable supply of critical minerals for the EV revolution and the technologies of tomorrow. We’re also known for our world-class labour, human rights, environmental, and health and safety standards that make us one of the best places in the world to invest and to do business.

As I’ve mentioned before, I grew up in a proud mining family. I have been around mining operations all my life. I have spent most of my career in this amazing industry, and I have been lucky enough to work around the world in places that have made me proud of Canada and Ontario’s world-class mining standards. But just because we are one of the best doesn’t mean we can’t do better. We know we can always do more in this province to improve our processes and fine-tune our legislation and regulations to help ensure the sector remains effective, efficient and able to meet the demands of the global economy.

Speaker, the mining industry is one of the most important drivers of our economy today, contributing $13 billion to the province’s GDP annually and supplying over 75,000 jobs to people in Ontario. The mining industry is also the single largest employer of Indigenous peoples, who make up 11% of the mining workforce. We believe the mining industry’s best days are still ahead. That’s why we’re creating the conditions for investment that will lead to an era of prosperity and job creation for northern and Indigenous communities and for all of Ontarians.

The changes in our proposed Building More Mines Act will set the stage for our province to become the leading global jurisdiction for mineral investment and development.

Speaker, the reasons we’re putting this bill forward are clear: We need to create the right legislative and regulatory environment for companies to build these mines faster to take advantage of the generational opportunity to supply the EV revolution. By passing this bill, we would provide significant economic development opportunities for northern and Indigenous communities without compromising Ontario’s world-class environmental protections and the duty to consult.

I’m so proud of the thought and effort that has gone into this bill that is before the members today. I’m equally proud of the high praise it has received from mining and industry proponents. My ministry has also been engaging directly with Indigenous communities and organizations, and we have listened carefully to their feedback. I want to note that we are extending the timeline for First Nation and Métis communities and organizations to provide feedback on the regulatory amendments associated with the proposed changes until May 31. As always, we’ll continue to carefully consider all input we receive.

Before I continue, I want to take a moment to thank all those individuals, associations, organizations and others who have taken the time to provide written submissions and express support for the Building More Mines Act, as well as all those who have provided feedback online through the Environmental Registry of Ontario and the Regulatory Registry.

Of course, I want to personally acknowledge everyone who travelled to Timmins and Sudbury and took time out of their busy schedules to present at the Standing Committee on the Interior.

Industry stakeholders, Indigenous leaders and other experts provided invaluable feedback and insight on the proposed bill. From financing for projects to closure planning and ministry reviews, we have heard those concerns and are addressing them in this bill. Through these appearances and the thoughtful follow-up questions posed at committee, we heard loud and clear that the Building More Mines Act would help create efficiencies, reduce delays, attract investment and boost Ontario’s competitive advantage. We value and appreciate everyone’s input and efforts to make this the best bill it could possibly be.

Lastly, I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the members of the Standing Committee on the Interior for your thorough consideration of our proposed bill.

I would like to quote some of the written submissions we have received, as they help paint an important picture of the objectives we are aiming to accomplish with this proposed legislation.

I would like to quote Mike van Akkooi, senior vice-president of external affairs and co-head of ESG for Kinross Gold, who stated: “By clearly defining timelines for permitting and other steps in the project, effectively communicating the status of the work being done within the ministry to project proponents, and reducing uncertainty on permitting processes and timelines, the government will make a significant and positive impact on the ability of mining companies to confidently invest and run successful projects in Ontario.”

In its presentation deck to the committee, First Mining Gold also spoke of the benefits of the act to the entire sector: “We seek to work in safe jurisdictions with efficient regulatory systems ... improvements to the Mining Act and closure planning processes are an important step towards a more efficient regulatory system in Ontario, supporting ongoing investment in the responsible development of resources.”

I would also like to quote an important and long-standing partner of our government, the Ontario Mining Association, who appeared before the committee and whose president reaffirmed the need for this bill. President Chris Hodgson stated: “This presents a generational opportunity—to create rewarding jobs, build a strong domestic mining-to-manufacturing supply chain, and be a key player in the global energy transition. Given that we are competing with jurisdictions across the world to feed the decarbonization-driven commodity super cycle, the government must take bold action to help Ontario succeed. This includes addressing current challenges in the Mining Act and providing a regulatory pathway forward for our industry leadership in the global marketplace.”

It’s not only the mining industry that has expressed its support for the Building More Mines Act. We have heard from the chambers of commerce in our northern mining hubs, who represent the interests of thousands of local businessmen, including mining supply and service companies—jobs. These folks work tirelessly to improve the quality of life and advocate for their communities.

In a written submission, Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, said, “We welcome the proposed changes to the Mining Act that are outlined in Bill 71, Building More Mines Act.... The current process for mine approval is unnecessarily duplicative and expensive and has long been a barrier to investment and development of Ontario’s mining resources. We are supportive of Bill 71 which seeks to streamline processes to reduce the time it takes to open a new mine, while continuing to ensure that Indigenous communities are engaged and consulted throughout.”

Debbi M. Nicholson, president and CEO of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, wrote, “We agree that the proposed changes in Bill 71 are integral to the development of new mines across northeastern Ontario that will support Ontario’s efforts to build a strong domestic mining-to-manufacturing supply chain and become a key player in the global energy transition.”

I could go on, but it is evident that people and organizations across this province support the changes we’re proposing. The many stakeholders who have praised our amendments in this bill all agree that Bill 71, if passed, would create more business certainty, remove barriers, increase competitiveness, and lead to more investment, jobs and prosperity for our northern and Indigenous communities.

We have heard time and time again from industry proponents that our current processes are too time-consuming and costly, leading to project delays and lost opportunities for our mineral exploration and mining sector. They’ve provided us with first-hand knowledge and tangible ideas on how to improve the Mining Act and move the industry forward. That is what this bill is all about—a collaboration of ideas from the best and brightest minds, focused on solving the mining challenges of today and tomorrow.

This past March, I attended my first Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada meeting—PDAC—as the Minister of Mines, along with 30,000 attendees from more than 130 countries. I had the opportunity to meet with governments and private sector delegations from all around the world. These countries are searching for a reliable partner and producer of critical minerals. We can be that place, but we must act with urgency.

However, it cannot take 15 years to build a mine if we’re going to accomplish our goals. I think we can all agree that 15 years is a long time. That is 15 years of lost economic opportunities and good-paying jobs for Ontario workers. It’s a decade and a half of missed opportunities to contribute to new and emerging technologies. We know that capital is mobile, and the pace of technology does not wait for jurisdictions that lag behind or are weighted down by regulatory burden. Because previous governments neglected the industry, we must take decisive and urgent action to solve the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities.

I have seen first-hand how opportunities in the mining industry can build up communities and create places where people want to live, work and raise families.

Mr. Speaker, we heard our stakeholders and we listened. Our proposed package of amendments would help attract more investment in the sector, create business certainty and help us meet the ever-growing global demand for critical minerals—critical minerals that support the made-in-Ontario supply chain for technologies like batteries, electric vehicles, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing technologies.

I have said it many times in the past, and I will say it again: There is no supply chain for EVs without mining. We knew, as a government, that we needed a plan to build mines faster and unearth these critical minerals that our province is rich with. That’s why we launched our Critical Minerals Strategy last year—our comprehensive five-year blueprint to make Ontario a global leader in supplying critical minerals. The strategy will boost the resiliency of our supply chains, expand innovation and increase our exploration capacity.

We are building an integrated supply chain by connecting critical minerals producers in the north, including those in the Ring of Fire, with the manufacturing might in the south.

I will touch on the importance of the Ring of Fire region in a moment, but unearthing the province’s vast supply of critical minerals starts with exploration. That’s why we are investing a total of $35 million, which includes $12 million for our critical minerals stream, into our Ontario Junior Exploration Program, OJEP. This program helps junior mining companies finance early exploration to find the mines of the future. As announced in our 2023 budget, Building a Strong Ontario, we are investing an additional $6 million over two years in this successful program, which will help more companies search for mineral deposits and attract further investment in this growing sector.

We know that unlocking northern Ontario’s critical minerals is key to the economy of the future. It will help bring investments and better jobs with bigger paycheques to Ontario. But our government hasn’t stopped there.

Last November, I launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund, CMIF. The CMIF helps fund research, development and commercialization of projects to create investments in Ontario’s critical minerals supply chain. This $5-million fund is supporting Ontario-based projects in the critical minerals sector, ranging from mining and mineral processing to the recovery and recycling of minerals. Projects like these showcase that Ontario has the mineral resources and industry expertise to supply and manufacture the innovative technologies of tomorrow.

Ontario is working diligently to build a global, competitive and integrated supply chain—a made-in-Ontario supply chain—that will create good-paying jobs, increase the province’s competitive advantage and build up the economy.

Our strategy is backed by strategic investments in these programs—a competitive advantage that simply cannot be ignored. The opposition voted against all of these programs.

So let’s be clear: If the opposition votes against this bill, they are voting against jobs in their own ridings. I expect full support of this bill because I know this opposition and their constituents understand the importance of building a supply chain for electric vehicles. It all starts with mining.

Before I conclude, I want to briefly touch on the Ring of Fire, which is central to our plan to become the leading global jurisdiction for mineral development and investment. The Ring of Fire is one of the most promising mineral deposits in Canada and the world. It is a generational opportunity for northern and Indigenous communities and has the potential to support innovative technologies for high-growth sectors such as batteries, electronics, electric vehicles and clean tech.

Unlike the previous Liberal government, we have made progress that we can all be proud of. Our government is investing $1 billion to support critical legacy infrastructure, such as all-season roads, broadband connectivity and community supports in the Ring of Fire region. We have been working collaboratively with the extraordinary leadership of Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation. By working with the First Nations on these projects, we will build infrastructure to improve education, food security, housing conditions and social and health services for everyone. All-season, dependable road access is vital to seizing opportunities in the region for First Nations and creating better supply chain connections between Ontario industries, resources, workers and communities. We continue to support Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation as they lead their environmental assessment work for the Marten Falls community access road and the Webequie supply road.

Our approach is working. In March, at the PDAC Convention, I was honoured to join Chief Cornelius of Webequie First Nation and Chief Bruce of Marten Falls First Nation to announce our government’s approval of the environmental assessment terms of reference for the Northern Road Link. The First Nations-led project would connect the two nations to the Ontario highway network and the critical minerals in the Ring of Fire area. We will continue to support Marten Falls and Webequie First Nation as they conduct the studies, engage and consult with their own communities and neighbouring First Nations and make informed decisions on how to best move forward.

As we look ahead, it is clear that there is a great deal to be excited about. We are forging lasting partnerships with Indigenous communities who want to share in the long-term economic benefits afforded by the mining sector. I believe this is the key to future success for the mining industry and to create prosperity. Our government will continue its efforts to consult on potential impacts, including cumulative impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights across all three proposed road projects. And I want to emphasize again that any proposed development in the Ring of Fire will be subject to Ontario’s rigorous regulatory requirements and environmental standards.

Speaker, third reading debate on the proposed Building More Mines Act today coincides with the first day of National Mining Week. National Mining Week begins on the second Monday of May each year to commemorate the significant historical and economic contribution of mining to the development of Canada. It also recognizes that a prosperous mining industry will continue to play a major role in job creation and the economic well-being of all Canadians, and it provides an opportunity for the people of Canada and the people of this great province to consider the importance of mining and the contributions the industry has made to our daily lives. Throughout the week, my ministry will be highlighting a variety of National Mining Week content on the social media channels. As we celebrate this important week, I want to emphasize that the Building More Mines Act reflects the spirit in which this week was created. In proposing changes to Ontario’s Mining Act to help this vital sector thrive, we are recognizing the lasting contributions it has made to the country and to the province.

Our government’s many investments and initiatives, including the changes put forward in the Building More Mines Act, are working to support every stage of the mining sequence from exploration and development to mine production and closure. This is a generational opportunity to set our province up for success and to become the number one destination for mineral investment and development around the world. Through our proposed Building More Mines Act, we are building up the entire mining sector, and, as a result, building Ontario. We will do this without compromising our world-class environmental protections and the duty to consult with Indigenous communities. Our government is following through on our commitment to build up the critical minerals sector for the benefit of everyone in Ontario. I encourage all members to support this bill and to help us deliver on this global, urgent and important priority.

Thank you once again for listening and being a part of the moment in history that our children and grandchildren will thank us for.

Now I’m very pleased to pass things over to my parliamentary assistant, Anthony Leardi, to say a few words.

Thank you to the member for the excellent question.

Mr. Speaker, as an individual who was raised in the mine site village of Dome and Dome-Ex in South Porcupine, Ontario—our government not only recognizes the importance of the north, but we want it to prosper like the rest of the province. That’s why our Critical Minerals Strategy is so important. It will connect the mineral-rich north with the manufacturing might of the south. This will create jobs and supply Ontario, Canada and the world with critical minerals needed for the EV revolution and the technologies of tomorrow. Our strategy is backed by strategic funding and programs like the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund and the Ontario Junior Exploration Program that will build the supply chain and find the mines of the future.

Last week, I was honoured to join the Minister of Finance in Thunder Bay to announce the additional investment of $6 million into the OJEP through budget 2023. That brings our total investment in the Ontario Junior Exploration Program to $35 million.

Our efforts are working. Last year, Ontario regained the top spot for exploration spending, with over $870 million invested. We’re number one. These investments are creating jobs for northern and Indigenous communities so that they can be a vital part of the supply chain.

Our government, under Premier Ford’s leadership, is building a supply chain for EVs, and it all starts with exploration.

Thank you to the member for the question and the minister for a great announcement last week.

Speaker, I come from a very proud mining family that’s been in the industry for over 100 years. I lived and worked in the mining communities. Safety continues to be our top priority, but we can always do better. That is why this announcement is so important, because we are improving workplace safety for miners.

As our government works to build more mines to supply the EV revolution, we need the world’s best and brightest to join our industry. This announcement sends a strong message that you can find safe, rewarding careers in Ontario’s mining industry. I am proud to be a part of a government that puts people first and sets them up for exciting jobs that will make them part of a growing supply chain for electric vehicles in this province.

Thanks for the question from the honourable member across from Brantford–Brant.

I want to talk specifically about one project and one First Nation: TTN. They’re a First Nation that is just north of Timmins. They have partnered with Canada Nickel, and it’s a very interesting cobalt-nickel project—the mineral that it’s hosted with is serpentine. Serpentine absorbs CO₂. The First Nation is the owner of the transmission line that will carry the power to that project. They own that transmission line. The chief is Bruce Archibald. His sister is RoseAnne Archibald—and I’m sure everybody knows who RoseAnne is. She told us last week, prior to this development—before supporting this development, the employment rate was 85%. Now it’s below the national average—

Thanks to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade’s efforts, we are securing unprecedented investments on the other end of the supply chain. We are matching those efforts through our proposed legislation, the Building More Mines Act, which, if passed, would save companies time and money. It will increase business certainty. It will promote investment in Ontario’s mining sector so we can continue to be a responsible producer of critical minerals to power the global EV revolution.

President Biden just told the House of Commons he believes “we have an incredible opportunity to work together so Canada and the United States can source and supply here in North America everything we need for reliable and resilient supply chains.”

We encourage the members opposite to act with urgency and vote with us on this important piece of legislation.

Thank you for the question from my colleague who works non-stop for his riding.

Mr. Speaker, we are building a supply chain from critical minerals to manufacturing electric vehicles that will create jobs and economic opportunities across the province, but it all starts with mining. We launched the Critical Minerals Strategy that attacks challenges in our sector through investing and cutting red tape. Our strategic investments in exploration and innovation help the brilliant people in our workforce find the mines of the future and solve mining challenges.

We won’t stop there. That’s why I introduced the Building More Mines Act that, if passed, would reduce regulatory burdens to save companies time and money. This would create business certainty and draw in more investment to the sector. We were happy to see the opposition support this bill at second reading, and we encourage them to continue to do so, to do what is right for this province by continuing—

I recently visited Glencore’s world-class Kidd Creek Mine with my colleague the Associate Minister of Transportation. This critical minerals mine is a world-class operation. It is over 10,000 feet deep and is the closest you can get to the earth’s core anywhere in the world, right in Timmins. I spoke to management at Glencore, and they told us how much they appreciated having a government that solves problems to keep this sector competitive.

Listen to what Peter Xavier, a vice-president at Glencore, had to say about our bill: “The improvement of processes within the Ministry of Mines will strengthen our Ontario operations and facilitate their expansion.” That means more jobs in ridings across the north, including those being represented by the members opposite.

We encourage all members of this House to support our bill, because it cannot take 15 years to build a mine if we are going to secure the supply chain for critical minerals.

The Standing Committee on the Interior.

Thanks again for the question from my colleague.

Our government, under Premier Ford’s leadership, has a very clear vision for this province. We are the first government focused on connecting supply chains in the north and south, so Ontarians across the province can share in economic benefits. Unlike previous governments, we are leveraging Ontario’s strengths in the mining and manufacturing sectors to build an integrated supply chain for EVs.

That’s why our government launched our Critical Minerals Strategy, and we will continue to execute on this plan.

I had the privilege of announcing the next round of recipients of the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund at PDAC this week. This fund leverages the expertise and innovation we have in Ontario’s critical minerals sector by funding research and development projects to secure the supply chain for critical minerals. The projects range from mining and mineral processing to the recovering and recycling of critical minerals. There are too many successful projects leveraging this fund to talk about in this short time, but what I can say is Ontario is taking action by making strategic investments—

Thank you for the question from my colleague.

This week, I attended the PDAC conference in Toronto. It’s the world’s largest mining conference. It attracts investors. It attracts mining companies. It attracts the manufacturing sector. It attracts service companies, including 100% Indigenous-owned companies like Black Diamond Drilling from Wahgoshig First Nation. They’re all there. We had an incredible presence from Team Ontario touring all around that conference. The conference is abuzz with what’s happening, with what this government is doing to ensure that it’s creating the conditions to come up with innovations, with innovative solutions for challenges that the industry is currently having.

Ontario, under this Premier, is getting it done so that the mining industry can do what they do best: build the critical minerals mines of the future to secure the supply chain for the EV revolution.

Thank you for the question from the member opposite.

This is a bill about building mines. It’s about bringing prosperity to northern Ontario. It’s a bill about securing the supply chain for critical minerals so that, in fact, the critical minerals that are produced in northern Ontario will be matched with the mining might in southern Ontario. These minerals, right now, are being secured in Russia and China and Congo, and we need those minerals secured in Ontario, out of northern Ontario. There is no compromise with the Indigenous duty to consult. There is no compromise with Ontario’s environmental standards. This is a world-class bill that will benefit every single citizen in Ontario.

I apologize for that—because the demand for critical minerals needed in strategic sectors such as electric vehicles, telecommunications, national defence and battery storage is growing exponentially.

As I said last night, tonight is our time. We’ve got the minerals in northern Ontario that can be married to the manufacturing and production in southern Ontario. We’re in the heart of the EV revolution that is happening in Ontario right now. Our communities are poised in the north, associated with the mining projects to flourish.

Madam Speaker, when Minister Fedeli was here the other day, he talked about the hollowing-out of the manufacturing sector in southern Ontario. I’ll tell you, the forestry and mining sector was also hollowed out in those years as well. The forestry sector was decimated. I had four value-added projects in Timmins; they’re gone now. The member opposite knows, in fact, that two survived in his riding. The rest, including pulp-and-paper mills and chipboard facilities, are all gone. They lost the employees, and with that, our population in the north declined. Southern Ontario was expanding; northern Ontario’s population was declining in every single major sector. It’s time to change that, because now is our opportunity.

These minerals have specific industrial, technological and strategic applications. They do not have many viable alternatives, meaning if a critical mineral is not available, there aren’t many other minerals that can be used in its place. Where are we getting those critical minerals right now? Where are we getting the rare earths? They’re coming from Russia and they’re coming from China and they’re coming from the Congo. That’s what we can do; we can secure the supply chain right here in Ontario.

There are 33 minerals in Ontario’s critical minerals list, including nickel, cobalt and lithium. Foreign countries that do not share Ontario’s world-class labour, human rights, environmental and health and safety standards like Russia and China have a stranglehold on the markets for many of these minerals. Our allies are looking for stable suppliers of responsibly sourced critical minerals from jurisdictions with standards that mirror or exceed our own. It is up to us to do what Canadians and Ontarians have always done and rise to the occasion and show the world that those leaders come from here, and we can be that jurisdiction.

Ontario is blessed with some of the most mineral-rich deposits in the world, including critical minerals like nickel, cobalt and lithium used in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles, smart phones, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing technologies. Ontario’s vast mineral wealth, along with its competitive business climate, highly skilled workforce and incentives for innovation position it to become the leading global supplier of responsibly sourced minerals. We know the world wants Ontario’s critical minerals and we are one of the first governments to pave the way for this exciting sector by investing in exploration and innovation through our Critical Minerals Strategy and cutting unnecessary red tape so companies can build more mines.

As part of our strategy, we have made significant strategic investments in our Ontario Junior Exploration Program to find the mines of the future. And we’ve also invested in our Critical Minerals Innovation Fund to identify and help fund innovation in the sector. Ontario has a responsibility to help build the critical minerals supply chain, and to do so, we need to create the conditions for companies to build mines more efficiently. We will do this while maintaining our world-class environmental protections and meeting duty-to-consult obligations to accomplish this goal.

Here in this province, we have the mineral resources and the industry experience and skilled workforce to supply and manufacture the innovative technologies of tomorrow. We believe the mining industry’s best days are still ahead, and we’re creating the conditions for an unprecedented era of prosperity for the north, Indigenous communities and all of Ontario.

Through our government’s actions, outlined in strategies such as Driving Prosperity, the government’s 10-year plan to transform Ontario’s automotive supply chain to build the cars of the future, including fully electric battery vehicles, and Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy, our comprehensive five-year blueprint to strengthen Ontario’s position as a global leader in supplying critical minerals, we are working to build an integrated supply chain by connecting the critical minerals producers in the north, including the projects in the Ring of Fire, with the manufacturing might in the south.

Our first-ever Critical Minerals Strategy, which we released last year, is helping us create opportunities in Ontario’s mining sector, while supporting the transition to the green technologies of the future. The commitments in this strategy will see us boost the resiliency of our supply chains, expand innovation and increase our exploration capacity.

Ontario’s minerals are already part of the global integrated supply chain and are used in many, many projects worldwide. Our government has already taken several actions to help boost our supply chains for these critical minerals and implement the goals in the strategy since its release. We’ve invested in expanding geoscience information related to critical minerals through the Ontario geological survey. We’ve made strategic investments in critical minerals projects through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.

I’ve already said we’ve supported early critical minerals exploration through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program. Last month, I joined Premier Ford in Sault Ste. Marie to announce our government has invested $5.8 million to help junior mining companies explore for critical minerals through the program. In total, we are investing $12 million over four years for critical minerals exploration in the Ontario Junior Exploration Program. Since the launch of the program in 2021, 32 companies have received funding for exploration of minerals such as nickel, copper, cobalt and lithium. These companies have invested an additional $12.8 million in these projects.

Last November, we launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund. The CMIF is a $5-million fund that supports the critical minerals sector by funding research, development and commercialization of projects to stimulate investment in Ontario’s critical minerals supply chain. Just yesterday, I was at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference and convention to announce the successful projects receiving funding. These innovative projects range from mining and mineral processing to the recovering and recycling of minerals, and they’re happening right here in Ontario.

Even with these accomplishments, we are just getting started, Madam Speaker. In this ever-changing global landscape, we need more responsibly sourced critical minerals to fuel the innovations and technologies of tomorrow. However, there are barriers we need to address before we can truly accomplish our goals, because there can be no integrated supply chain without an updated act to make the mining sector more efficient.

That’s what this is, Speaker. This is what we are accomplishing today. We are listening to the experts and delivering the efficiencies that will allow us to secure the supply chain for critical minerals, to help the entire mining sector there. We are providing flexibility and reducing costs for companies, so they can do what they do best: build mines. This is all part of our government’s plan to build the integrated supply chain, connecting critical minerals producers in the north with the manufacturers in the south.

The Building More Mines Act, if passed, will help us accomplish these goals to help our entire provincial economy and enter into an unprecedented era of prosperity, making Ontario the place to invest and to do business. I want to assure all of you: Ontario stands ready to do its part. We are optimistic that all members of the House will support this bill, because the future of this province depends on a stronger mining sector.

With that, Madam Speaker, I want to include the parliamentary assistant, so I’ll conclude my remarks and turn it over to PA Leardi.

It is a privilege to rise for second reading of our government’s proposed Building More Mines Act, 2023. I want to indicate that I’ll be sharing the government’s leadoff time with the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Mines. The PA will be touching on the importance of Indigenous partnerships to the future of Ontario’s mining sector and the progress to date in developing the Ring of Fire.

Before I begin, I’d like to take a moment to thank the mining industry leaders and other partners who have provided my ministry and me with invaluable feedback on the opportunities and challenges they’ve encountered in the sector under the previous governments. The feedback has informed the Building More Mines Act, Mr. Speaker.

Through the minister’s mining industry council—MMIC—meetings and other discussions, they provide us with actionable ideas on how to improve the Mining Act and move the industry forward. The main theme that continually came up in our discussions was improving inefficiencies in the processes. That is what this act is all about. It’s about making the ministry more efficient. It cannot take 15 years to build a mine. It’s simply unacceptable when we have the knowledge, the skilled labour force and the innovative solutions to address the issues.

In the early 1960s, the mineral deposits at Kidd Creek were found and three years later the mine was up and running and producing valuable minerals. The sudden influx of people and the economic activity allowed the surrounding communities to experience an economic boom in a very short period of time. Today, Mr. Speaker, it takes 15 years to do the very same thing. The mines get built slower, the economic benefits move slower and the processes take longer now than they ever have. How is that possible, when today we know more and our technology is better? It has everything to do with our outdated and unnecessarily restrictive regulations.

Previous governments sat idly by and let this problem fester. We are here to fix the 15 years of Liberal negligence, and it starts with updating the Mining Act to match the reality of the current state of the mining industry. This is so that the exploration and mining sector can continue to do what it does best: making the mineral discoveries and building the mines of the future.

Our government remains focused on creating the conditions to help attract investment and optimize competitive advantages in the sector. This includes creating the most logical legislative and regulatory environment possible. We are doing all of this without compromising our world-class environmental standards or Indigenous duty to consult.

Mr. Speaker, an important distinction to make is that governments don’t build mines—companies do.

As Ontario’s Minister of Mines, I’m extremely passionate about the mining industry and the critical role mining plays in Ontario’s economic prosperity. Mining has long been a driver of growth for Ontario. We remember the days when the ONR was being driven from North Bay to Cochrane to access the agriculture belts in there. They found silver and cobalt, and that kicked off the whole thing. That led to the gold discoveries in Porcupine and it led to the gold discoveries in Kirkland Lake and silver discoveries in Elk Lake. It also led to the base metal discoveries, as well, in the Horne mine in northern Quebec.

Mining remains a cornerstone for our economy today—and will for many years to come. I come from a mining town, and I’ve seen first-hand how the industry can build up communities. I was born and raised in South Porcupine, at the historic Dome-Ex property—actually, the mine site village of Dome and Dome-Ex on the Dome property. I was raised in a house in the shadow of a mine. I have mined all my life. My family has been in mining for over 100 years.

My father was born in 1920 in a house behind the mill, and obviously, my grandparents were there before my father was born. Seven kids were raised in that house, and my father was able to provide for us because of his career in mining. My father’s work inspired my career, and I have worked in the mining industry for the bulk of my career.

My father was 16 years old—he was the eldest in his family—when he finished grade 13—at 16 years old. So, in 1936, he started to work at the Dome mine. Why? Because there were no other jobs. It was in the middle of the Depression. And that’s what he did for the rest of his career, absent the time he spent in the Second World War. And as I said, we raised seven kids because my father worked in mining.

That’s what this act is all about: giving more people the opportunity to have a rewarding career in mining or the associated industries. The member from Sudbury knows all about this: He landed a career in a smelter that helped him buy a house and start a family, something all Ontarians have been asking for. Mining provided for that future.

As I’ve said before, I have worked in the mining industry for many years, my whole career, and I have witnessed a lot of changes and challenges first-hand. In my time in the industry, I met some of the best and brightest people the world of mining has to offer—people who never stopped innovating and coming up with solutions to challenges that they faced.

It’s no coincidence that the technology that has been driving progress in the mining industry is because we have such a high percentage of highly paid professionals that are leading this industry. It’s no accident that the intake water from Musselwhite mine is cleaner than the discharge water. It’s no accident, with the Côté Lake mine, there is no discharge water. That mine took 17 years to permit, to get across the line so you could start building this mine, and there is absolutely no discharge water out of that facility. It’s a remarkable achievement, and it’s done through the technology and the skill and the ability of the mining people.

Despite these challenges, Ontario remains a world-class mining jurisdiction and is always among the top 10 jurisdictions in the world for mineral exploration spending. But we can do better. We must do better.

The industry contributes nearly $13 billion annually to Ontario’s GDP and provides 75,000 jobs associated with mineral processing and mining supply and services. Ontario’s mining sector has one of the highest proportions of Indigenous workers of all industries in the province. Indigenous employment accounts for 11% of direct mining jobs in Ontario.

One of the things I did in my career with Placer Dome was help develop the Musselwhite mine. With those agreements—and they were very progressive IBAs that were signed with five First Nations and they ended up being revenue-sharing agreements that I led that directly related to increased prosperity with the communities surrounding that mine because of the activity in that mine. That’s what activity in that sector can do.

As you all know, I worked with Wahgoshig Resources Inc. That’s the commercial entity for WFN. WFN is the Indigenous community on the south shore of Lake Abitibi. You start off with relatively passive economic involvement and by the time we had finished, the Wahgoshig First Nation was a participant in the real economy by building a 100%-owned diamond drilling company, owned by the Indigenous people, by capitalizing on the economic opportunities in their traditional territory. That’s what we did working together with First Nations.

About 25% of direct mining jobs in Canada are in Ontario and around two thirds of these direct mining jobs are in northern Ontario.

Ontario’s statistics are equally impressive when it comes to mineral exploration. In 2021, Ontario was second in Canada for mineral exploration expenditures, totalling $878 million, roughly 24% of all mineral exploration expenditures in Canada. As of March 1, 2023, there are approximately 366,000 active mining claims in good standing in Ontario. In 2021, Ontario was Canada’s third-largest mineral producer, producing $11.1 billion worth of minerals—20% of Canada’s total mineral production.

Ontario is one of the leading world producers of gold, nickel and platinum group elements. In 2021, Ontario produced approximately $3.1 billion worth of critical minerals with 10 of those 36 operating mines in Ontario producing critical minerals. That same year, platinum group elements and copper had the highest critical mineral production values, at least $1.2 billion and $1 billion respectively. That’s what mining does to the economy and for the economy for 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 and two thirds of Canada’s platinum group metals production.

Some of the world’s largest mining companies operate in Ontario, such as Glencore, Vale, Newmont and Barrick. These companies benefit from a range of provincial support programs, including programs to help manage the energy costs associated with mineral production.

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.

There are currently 36 active mining operations in Ontario, the majority of which are in northern Ontario, and there are more new mine construction projects and mine expansions under way as we speak. There are many fantastic projects in various stages of development. Under our government, we want to help pave the way so that more critical mineral mines get to production that much sooner—mines like Vale’s Copper Cliff south mine project that I visited with the Premier this past October. Phase 1 of the Copper Cliff complex south mine project reunites the south side of Copper Cliff mine with the north side and creates a new supply hub for low-carbon critical minerals, helping anchor Sudbury as a homegrown and sustainable supply chain for electric vehicles and the batteries that power them.

Did I tell you, Speaker, that that project cost was brought in at almost $1 billion—over $900 million to do this right here in Sudbury and all the benefits that are accrued to Sudbury because of those mines? And they’re doing it cleanly, all with EVs, no diesel. They’re committed to the environment that their employees work in.

The re-opened mine will provide employment for more than 250 workers, boosting the local economy. These numbers are impressive, Mr. Speaker, but there is more that needs to be done. We need to continue to support the growth of the mining industry, because the future of our world depends on it. While the mining sector has weathered the recent unprecedented economic challenges better than most, it is not immune to external forces. Ontario must act now—and perhaps I should start saying “Madam Speaker,” not “Mr. Speaker”—

The proposed An Act to amend the Mining Act would amend the Mining Act and, if passed, the changes will help save mining companies time and money.

Improving the Mining Act will create the conditions for companies to build more mines while maintaining Ontario’s environmental standards and duty to consult. These updates will also ensure we have the critical minerals in Ontario necessary to build the supply chain for electric vehicles.

Ontario has some of the world’s most mineral-rich deposits, including the Ring of Fire, that house critical minerals used in manufacturing electric vehicles, smart phones, pharmaceuticals and other technologies.

Our government is improving the Mining Act to create the conditions for companies to build more mines efficiently and to help strengthen the made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chains for critical minerals and electric vehicles.

These changes would make Ontario more competitive, attract new investment to the province, and pave the way for Ontario to become the number one jurisdiction in the world for mineral investment and development.

Mr. Shamji moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 72, An Act to proclaim the third week in June as Health Professionals’ Week / Projet de loi 72, Loi proclamant la troisième semaine de juin Semaine des professionnels de la santé.

Mining is the number one employer in the great riding of Timmins. I am proud of what mining means to my community and to the north. Our investments have been hailed by industry. But don’t just take my word for it; listen to how impactful $400,000 can be for a junior mining company.

Dr. Michael Gunning, president and CEO of VR Resources—and VR Resources has a remarkable rare earth discovery just north of Timmins—said, “For a small company like mine, doing the front-end R&D of exploration—funding matters. It takes courage and it takes money to make these discoveries.... OJEP has made a difference to my company and is making a difference to the industry.”

The importance of these investments cannot be overstated, and the industry agrees. With our investments, these companies will find mines in the future while helping us to secure Ontario’s future.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage the opposition to vote for us the next time we make vital investments in this in-demand sector of our economy.

Thank you for the question from my friend and the member from Sault Ste. Marie. We joined the Premier in Sault Ste. Marie to announce a $5.8-million investment through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program—because it starts with exploration. You know the genesis of Algoma Steel in the discovery of iron ore in Wawa—and Wawa right now is thriving on the basis of exploration and development activity. From Wawa back over to Dubreuilville and over to Marathon, it starts with exploration. That’s why we have funded 32 mining companies and have invested an additional $12.5 million in private capital to find critical minerals.

Here’s the kicker, Mr. Speaker: The opposition voted no to these investments. They voted no to jobs in northern communities and they voted no to finding new critical minerals. This government, under the Premier, is taking decisive action to secure our supply chain and our future, and it all starts with exploration.

It’s my privilege to introduce Gaetan Malette, my campaign manager, from Timmins, Ontario.

Gaetan, welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’m actually right beside you.

I want to take a moment to welcome Matthieu Quirion from the constit office in Timmins, Ontario. Welcome, Matthieu.

Thank you to the member from Thunder Bay–Atikokan for your question and for the great work you’re doing in your riding.

Mr. Speaker, Generation Mining’s Marathon palladium project supports our Critical Minerals Strategy by creating a source of palladium, a mineral vital in the production of clean technologies, right here in Ontario. This market is important because Russia has cornered the market and is a primary global supplier of this mineral. Our strategy is combatting this and ensuring our allies have access to these resources by creating the right conditions for companies to do what they do best: build mines and create jobs.

Just listen to what Jamie Levy, CEO of Generation Mining, had to say about our government’s support for their project: “We appreciate the support of the province throughout this process. This important critical mineral project will bring economic prosperity to the town of Marathon, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, and the regional Indigenous communities by creating 900 construction jobs and 375 mining jobs.”

Mr. Speaker, our Critical Minerals Strategy is working.

Thank you to the member from Kitchener–Conestoga for the question.

Mr. Speaker, last week I was in Timmins to launch the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund. This is a very exciting time for Ontario as we decarbonize our economy. What we’re doing is critical to the future of not only Ontario, but to the globe. This is a two-year, $5-million fund which will support research, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies, techniques, processes, analytical solutions for critical minerals.

These projects will help increase exploration, mining, development, production and processing capacity of critical minerals in Ontario. Our investment will leverage Ontario’s expertise to tap into new and growing markets and to ensure we capitalize on the demand for critical minerals.

Mr. Speaker, I know there are industries that will leverage this fund to partner with Indigenous communities, non-profits or colleges—academics—to ensure Ontario remains a leader in innovation in the mining sector. This will strengthen our Critical Minerals Strategy and help us achieve our goal by creating a supply chain for clean technologies right here in Ontario.

Thank you for the question from the member from Sault Ste. Marie.

The mining industry in Ontario is the best in the world, but that hasn’t stopped us from improving.

Last week, the Premier was back in Timmins to join me at Newmont’s announcement of a $160-million investment in a new, state-of-the-art effluent treatment plant. This new, industry-leading plant will return treated clean water to the watershed, benefiting the ecosystem for generations. The treatment plant will secure the future of Newmont’s operations in my hometown of Porcupine. A mining operation like this is part of the fabric of our community and creates prosperity for the people of Timmins and for the entire province.

Ontario will continue to lead the world in environmentally responsible mining.

The mining industry in Ontario is thriving, and we are just getting started.

Last month, the Premier and I were at the official opening of Vale’s $945-million complex at Copper Cliff. This will create 270 jobs in the Sudbury region and lead to 14 years of production. The company is also preparing to invest another billion dollars in phase 2 of the project.

We have mines under construction right now, including Argonaut Gold’s Magino project, the Greenstone Gold mine, and Iamgold’s Côté Gold project.

These new mines are creating thousands of construction jobs, but more importantly, they will build stronger communities throughout the north.

We have more work to do, but we are building the foundation for the future of mining, and that will bring unprecedented prosperity to this province.