Reducing The Regulatory Burden: Ontario Proposes Mining Act Amendments

On March 2, 2023, the Government of Ontario introduced Bill 71, the Building More Mines Act, 2023, which seeks to amend Ontario's Mining Act. The changes are intended to shorten timelines for starting or modifying mine production and advanced exploration projects, facilitate permitting for the recovery of minerals from tailings and waste materials, and simplify closure planning. Although the proposed changes are not specific to critical minerals, Bill 71 is part of a broader effort by the Ontario government to capitalize on growing global demand for critical minerals driven by the transition to clean energy technologies.

BACKGROUND

According to the Government of Ontario, the extraction of critical minerals in the province is a C$3.5-billion-per-year industry and is viewed as a driver of future economic prosperity. In March 2022, Ontario published its Critical Minerals Strategy, a five-year plan for promoting the exploration, extraction and processing of critical