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The Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster is a significant contributor to the Ontario economy, in terms of employment, exports, employee payroll taxes, taxes paid by the industry and revenues generated. In order to measure the full economic contribution quantitative information is required for all key sectors. At present, this information is not readily available. Work is underway to "map" the Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster, assess the real value of its total economic contribution and explore uncharted areas and opportunities to develop, commercialize and export the knowledge, innovation, experience, services and expertise.
Click here to view the value of Ontario mineral production.
Click here to view the mineral exploration and deposit appraisal expenditures in Ontario:
With strong links to other industries, such as high-tech, medical, space, and military fields, there are numerous opportunities for the mineral industry, as a user and supplier of state-of-the-art tools, techniques and technology, to be a leader in developing and exporting new products and services. The ongoing need to reduce energy consumption to minimise adverse, environmental and health and safety effects provides ample opportunity for the Ontario Mineral Industry to become a global force. For example, discussions are currently underway to partner with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to provide space mining technology, know-how and equipment.
Ontario's mining companies have a national presence and are involved in many projects at all stages of the mineral resource development and mining process, in countries around the world. These include a wide range of goods and services used in mining activities, such as exploring for mineralization, assessing mineral discoveries, expanding existing mines and building new ones, producing mineral commodities, closing depleted operations and restoring mine sites. Canadian and foreign companies buy many of their goods and services from Ontario-based companies. For example, the Department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) found that mining firms doing business outside of Canadian borders bring back approximately 40 per cent of their business.
As one of its first tasks, the Minister of Northern Development and Mines, the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, has asked the Council, "To examine ways to create or attract more high quality jobs to the North through mining-related, value-added activities, such as exploration and development of the next generation of very deep mines, and new innovative technology developments in production, milling, smelting, refining and rehabilitation."
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