The Ontario Prospectors Association (OPA) welcomes Minister Stephen Lecce’s announcement of renewed funding under the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP). With $10 million awarded to 68 early-stage projects, this remains a cornerstone initiative of the province’s Critical Minerals Strategy.
OJEP directly addresses one of the most persistent challenges in mineral development: the near-absence of private capital at exploration’s earliest and highest-risk stages. More than 75% of OPA members continue to face barriers to consistent financing—a structural gap that threatens Ontario’s discovery pipeline and long-term competitiveness. Strategic public investment, as demonstrated by OJEP’s strong record of leveraging private capital, is essential to keeping prospectors in the field and Ontario at the forefront of responsible critical mineral supply. This program provides the “spark” required to turn a geological theory into a tangible discovery.
“Strategic public investment is essential to keeping Ontario at the forefront of global discovery,” said Steve Virtue, President and CEO of the OPA. “By covering up to $215,000 per project, the government is not just funding a drill program; they are leveraging millions in private capital and ensuring Ontario remains the top destination for mineral investment in the G7.
The OPA has been a consistent and vocal advocate for this program and for the broader policy conditions that enable early-stage exploration to thrive. We commend Minister Lecce and the Government of Ontario for their continued commitment.
While we celebrate this progress, the OPA remains focused on the “full-cycle” needs of the sector. As projects move toward feasibility and permitting, the financing gap remains a hurdle. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Energy and Mines on continued regulatory modernization, expanding the “One Project, One Process” framework, and ensure that the 35 minerals now on Ontario’s Critical Minerals List move rapidly from discovery to production.
Ontario is well-positioned to lead the global critical minerals transition. Ontario’s prospectors are the “boots on the ground” for the province’s economic sovereignty. Today’s investment ensures those boots stay in the field, finding these mines. The OPA remains committed to working with government to build on this momentum and deliver the mines of tomorrow.
