Ontario's Minister of Mines visits Sudbury

Ontario's Minister of Mines highlighted the Critical Mineral Innovation Fund during a tour of Sudbury on Monday.

George Pirie spoke of the funding during a tour of Dynamic Earth, reaffirming the $15 million promised in the 2024 budget.

"We have everything the world needs in northern Ontario and this is our time to take advantage of a generational opportunity," Pirie said.

"Sudbury, Timmins and Thunder Bay, and other regions in the north, all have a part to play in mining in Ontario."

The Critical Mineral Innovation Fund was first introduced in 2022 as part of the Critical Mineral Strategy to address supply chain challenges and strengthen the industry.

Pirie also shone a spotlight on two local recipients of the fund: Vale and the Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research (MIRARCO).

Vale received $500,000 to work with MIRARCO to improve the mining giant's sustainability goals.

Glen Watson, senior sustainability specialist with Vale, said the partnership provided the industry giant an excellent opportunity.

"The (fund) has allowed us to work with an excellent research facility right in our backyard and looking at waste materials as a resource instead of a liability," Watson said.

"It has been really important in not only funding some fundamental and applied research, but also engaging in industry directly," said Nadia Mykytczuk, CEO of MIRARCO.

"I think the biggest challenge in addressing critical minerals demand is putting pressure on the mining industry, and yet they’re looking for new tools for other sources like waste, how do we go after something that had been sitting out for over 100 years and extract those critical minerals sustainably."

Pirie will also be speaking at the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities Conference.

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