Ford announces $4.1M for northern Ont. mining industry

In Sudbury on Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced $4.1 million for five mining supply and services projects in northeastern Ontario from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.

The NOHFC provides money for projects aimed at stimulating growth, job creation and skills development.

“These investments will support our province’s growing mining industry and help build up our home-grown electric vehicle and battery supply chain,” Ford said in a news release.

“Through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, our government is helping to create thousands of jobs, attract new investments and spur economic growth in Sudbury and throughout the north.”

Funding includes $2 million for Frontier Lithium Inc. in Sudbury to demonstrate a new lithium extraction process that produces high-quality lithium chemicals used in lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle manufacturing.

“This is a key step before exploring the possibility of establishing a full commercial-scale lithium chemical plant in northern Ontario that could provide employment opportunities for more than 200 people,” the release said.

Tim McDowell Equipment Ltd. in Sudbury is receiving $1 million to expand its facility and purchase equipment, allowing the company to expand its operations in supplying heavy equipment to the mining and construction industry and providing repair and rebuilding services.

A full list of projects receiving funding can be found here.

“Our government is building an integrated supply chain through our Critical Minerals Strategy by investing in critical minerals exploration, innovation and processing,” George Pirie, Minister of Mines, said in the release.

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“We want lithium from northern Ontario to fuel the electric vehicle manufacturing revolution in the south and this investment in Frontier Lithium will support building the processing and refining capacity we need to get it done.”