Amount: Up to $215,000 with maximum of 50% of total exploration expenditures.
The Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) is an initiative of the Ontario government that will help attract investment in early exploration, expand the pipeline of mineral development projects, including critical minerals, and lead to more mines and jobs in Ontario.
As jurisdictions around the world seek stable, responsible sources of the critical minerals needed for electric vehicles, clean energy and advanced manufacturing, Ontario is introducing two features in this intake that will help accelerate critical mineral projects:
- New Prospector Stream: Licensed Ontario prospectors can now apply for up to $50,000 per project, with additional Indigenous Participation Support bringing the total potential funding to $65,000 per applicant.
- Enhanced Indigenous Participation Funding: To support Indigenous employment and business opportunities has increased from $10,000 to $15,000 per project on top of core program funding.
Eligibility Criteria
- be a non-producing junior mining company with a market capitalization of up to $100 million (or a comparable value if you are a private company) as of the opening date of the intake period
- be registered on the Ontario Business Registry
- submit an application that proposes to undertake grassroots mineral exploration in Ontario
- provide proof that the applicant has the funds to cover 100% of total project costs
- provide a copy of a valid certificate of insurance which includes general commercial liability coverage at a limit not less than $2 million per occurrence
- be enrolled in the Mining Lands Administration System and hold the necessary mining lands tenure required to carry out the project
- have a valid exploration plan and/or permit issued under the Mining Act before work proceeds and for the duration of the project (where required)
- have the approval of the plan/permit and/or tenure holder to apply for OJEP funding and carry out the proposed project
Eligible Activities
- The establishment of a grid by line cutting, including picketing and chaining, when such a grid has been approved and is used to carry out an eligible survey.
- Geophysical surveys (airborne or ground), geological and geochemical surveys, when such activities include the preparation of maps and reports by qualified personnel.
- Overburden stripping, trenching and test pitting, when such activities include the preparation of maps and reports.
- Surface overburden and core drilling for exploration purposes only, including mobilization, demobilization and core logging and sampling, supported by the preparation of plans, sections, drill logs and reports.
- Removal of material: all refuse, fuel drums, equipment and any other material or thing brought onto the lands for the early exploration activity.
- Activities to help meet the requirements for rehabilitation of exploration plans and exploration permit activities as described in the Provincial Standards for Early Exploration.
- Evaluation activities: Assaying and analyses for the above activities, when such activities include the preparation of maps and reports.
Eligible Expenses
- Labour (salaries).
- Contractors and Consultants.
- Equipment Rental and Supplies.
- Transportation (mobilization and demobilization).
- Meals and Accommodation.
- Indigenous Capacity Eligible Expenses.
Amount
Eligible junior mining companies can receive:
- up to $200,000 per project to cover 50% of eligible costs
- up to an additional $15,000 to cover 100% of eligible costs per project supporting Indigenous employment and business opportunities
Eligible prospectors applying under the new prospectors stream can receive:
- up to $50,000 per project to cover 50% of eligible costs
- an additional up to $15,000 to cover 100% of eligible costs per project supporting Indigenous employment and business opportunities
Deadline
Applications for the sixth intake of OJEP will be accepted beginning on July 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. EST and closing on July 31, 2025, at 4 p.m. EST.
