Amount: Up to $200,000 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.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a non-producing, junior mining company registered to conduct business in Ontario.
- Have a market capitalization of up to $100 million (or of a comparable value, if private company) as of the opening date of each intake period:
– July 26, 2021 for Year 1 applications
– January 10, 2022 for Year 2 applications - Provide proof that they have the funds to cover 100 per cent of total project costs at the time the application is submitted.
- Ability to provide a copy of a valid Certificate of Insurance for this project which includes the following:
– general commercial liability coverage at a limit of not less than $2 million per occurrence;
– a cross-liability clause;
– contractual liability coverage; and
– a 30-day written notice of cancellation. - Be enrolled in the Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS) and able to hold mining claims in Ontario. Claims are to be in good standing for the duration of the project.
- Have an exploration plan and/or permit valid at time of application and for the duration of project (where required).
Eligibility 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.
Eligibility Expenses
- Labour (salaries).
- Contractors and Consultants.
- Equipment Rental and Supplies.
- Transportation (mobilization and demobilization).
- Meals and Accommodation.
- Indigenous Capacity Eligible Expenses.
Amount
50% of project costs up to $200,000 per project. Applicants be required to provide the ministry with proof of funds to complete the proposed project, as an attachment to the application.
The ministry will disburse approved funding for a project in two installments. Upon satisfactory review of the project’s interim report, funding recipients will receive 30 per cent of the agreed funding amount. Upon satisfactory review of the final report, funding recipients will receive 70 per cent of the agreed funding amount.
Deadline
Applicants must complete application and submit attachments on or before August 31, 2021 for the Year 1 or February 15, 2022 for Year 2.
Year 1 projects will start no earlier than July 26, 2021 and are expected to end by February 15, 2022, with final reports due by February 28, 2022.
Year 2 projects will start no earlier than April 1, 2022 and are expected to end by February 15, 2023, with final reports due by February 28, 2023.