Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeLatest NewsCritical Minerals Strategy supports made-in-Ontario electric vehicle supply chain

Critical Minerals Strategy supports made-in-Ontario electric vehicle supply chain

 

Ontario’s first Critical Minerals Strategy is a blueprint to connect industries, resources and workers in our province’s north to the future of manufacturing in the south to build home-grown supply chains.

That’s how Premier Doug Ford describes the government’s plan to support electric vehicles and battery manufacturing.

Ontario’s supply of critical minerals, processing capabilities and proximity to North American manufacturing hubs makes the province an ideal place for mineral exploration and investment, he said.

The new strategy is a five year roadmap to “better connect the mines in the north with the manufacturing sector in the south, in particular to Ontario-based electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing; tap into new and growing markets, including electric vehicles, batteries, telecommunications and national defence.”

It focuses on six priorities:

  • Enhancing geoscience information and supporting critical minerals exploration
  • Growing domestic processing and creating resilient local supply chains
  • Improving the regulatory framework to make the mining industry more globally competitive
  • Investing in innovation, research and development
  • Building economic development opportunities with Indigenous partners
  • Growing labour supply and developing a skilled labour force

“We believe there is an incredible opportunity to connect our northern and southern economies to build a made-in-Ontario supply chain for emerging technologies such as EVs,” said Greg Rickford, minister of Northern development, mines, natural resources and forestry.

“We want the world to know that Ontario is ready to supply our allies with a reliable source of critical minerals.”

Critical minerals have a variety of strategic uses, including smartphones, batteries for EVs, pharmaceuticals and solar cells. The Critical Minerals Strategy will strengthen Ontario’s supply chains, attract new investment in the mining and manufacturing sectors and build economic development opportunities for Indigenous partners.

The mining sector accounts for approximately 75,000 jobs in Ontario and mining is recognized as having one of the highest proportions of Indigenous workers of all industries in the province, at 11 per cent.

“The critical minerals strategy will result in greater collaboration on resource development projects which can advance reconciliation with Indigenous communities and peoples. Critical minerals represent a new opportunity for Ontario and Indigenous partners to work together, and I am excited to see where the strategy takes the province’s mining sector,” said Michael Fox
president of Indigenous community engagement

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Recent Comments