By Tamara Krawchenko, Associate Professor, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria; and Darren Godwell, CEO, Stronger Smarter Institute Canada and Ontario are accelerating efforts to attract global investment and speed up approvals for new mining projects. Ontario’s government has introduced new policies aimed at attracting investors and accelerate project timelines. Central to this strategy are laws like Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, and Bill 71, the Building More Mines Act. The surge in global demand for “critical minerals” such as nickel, lithium and cobalt — essential inputs for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies — has positioned mining as a cornerstone of energy transition strategies. Northern Ontario, endowed with vast mineral resources, has become a focal point in Canada’s emerging green economy. Yet this…










