Ontario Launches New Job-Creating Critical Minerals Strategy

March 3, 2026

Ontario is taking decisive action to protect Canadian jobs, strengthen self-reliance, and accelerate growth by releasing a new vision paper, Fortifying Ontario’s Economy: A Plan to Accelerate Responsible Resource Development.

Released at PDAC 2026, the vision paper launches consultations to guide the next phase of Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy in response to escalating geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, U.S. tariffs, rising trade protectionism and intensifying global competition for secure and democratic sources of critical minerals. The next phase of the strategy will focus on strengthening domestic supply chains, accelerating responsible development and positioning Ontario as the most attractive place in the G7 to invest and create jobs.

The government is also expanding the Critical Minerals List to include high-purity iron and aluminum — bringing the total to 35 — reinforcing Ontario’s role as a premier jurisdiction for investment in the exploration and processing of materials essential for green steel production and for the province’s world-class automotive, aerospace and defence sectors.

This nation-building initiative delivers on our government’s plan to protect Ontario by strengthening domestic supply chains, securing our economic sovereignty and ensuring the province remains a trusted and reliable global supplier of responsibly sourced critical minerals.

News Releases:

En: Critical Minerals Strategy

Fr: Stratégie relative aux minéraux essentiels