Mines minister touts new legislation to streamline mine openings during visit to Sudbury

Ontario Mines Minister Stephen Lecce was at a mine in Lively on Thursday to promote legislation that aims to get new mines approved much faster.

New, ground-breaking legislation aims to open up Sudbury and the rest of the mining industry to the world.

Speaking about it underground Thursday morning at Ducky Mine in Lively, Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s minister of Energy and Mines, said if passed, it could cut the approval time for developing mines in half.

“The fundamental basis of that bill is to create accountability on government to get projects done,” Lecce said.

“We’re going to reduce the timelines in the province by roughly 50 per cent.”

That’s music to the ears of mining advocates. Premier Doug Ford has based much of his argument around trade on the global need for Ontario’s critical minerals.

And the location for the event at the Lively Mine was by no means a mistake. Lecce unveiled the next steps to streamline approval underground at McLean Engineering and Marketing, a Canadian-owned mining supply giant.

“The one project, one process, which has been a long-time coming for families and businesses and workers and trade associations and private sector unions have been calling on government to make the system easier,” Lecce said.

Building More Mines Act

“The Building More Mines Act was a great first step,” said Frank Demers from the Ontario Mining Association.

“We’re confident that the one project, one process approach will build on the success already paved by this government.”

The legislation is being applauded by Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre, a former federal politician who said the city already has nine mines currently in the development process.

Lefebvre recently returned from a trip to Asia, promoting the mining industry abroad.

“Streamlining approvals through the one project, one process approach is a smart and necessary step,” he said.

“It eliminates duplication, reduces delays and provides the clarity and confidence investors, Indigenous partners and communities need to move forward.”

Talk of streamlining and reducing red tape at the federal level in other sectors has faced criticism by some, who claim the rules and regulations are there for a reason and that cutting corners could hurt the environment.

But Lecce said Thursday that his legislation, if passed, would work to balance both the province’s economic needs and environmental responsibilities.

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“The status quo, one of the slowest permitting systems in the industrial world, cannot be acceptable in today’s politics, in today’s world,” he said.

He said countries in Asia and the European Union have already come calling for our minerals. Combined with America’s need for nickel, Ontario and Canada are coming into a position of strength as we face a new reality of self-reliance.