Ontario Junior Exploration Program 

About the program

The Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) helps junior mining companies finance early exploration projects. These projects help boost mineral exploration, growth and job creation in the province, particularly in northern and Indigenous communities.

Eligible junior mining companies can receive:

• up to $200,000 per project to cover 50% of eligible costs
• up to $10,000 to cover 100% of eligible costs per project supporting Indigenous employment and business opportunities

Program streams

Critical minerals stream

Projects under the critical minerals stream are projects where a critical mineral, identified in Ontario’s critical minerals list, is the primary or secondary mineral exploration target.

Projects where the primary mineral exploration target is a critical mineral (primary target projects) will be considered for funding on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once primary target projects are selected, projects where the secondary mineral exploration target is a critical mineral (secondary target projects) will be considered for remaining funding on a first-come, first-served basis.

If funding under the critical minerals stream is fully allocated, any remaining primary or secondary target projects will automatically be considered under the exploration stream on a first-come, first-served basis.

Exploration stream

Projects under the exploration stream include:

• projects where the exploration target is a mineral not included in the list of critical minerals
• any primary target projects or secondary target projects that are being considered under the exploration stream

All projects in the exploration stream will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• 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 February 16, 2023
• 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

Apply

The September 6, 2023 to September 27, 2023 intake period is now closed.

We will assess and approve applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

For complete details on the program, application process and what happens after you apply, read the OJEP program guidelines.

Funding recipients

The following recipients received OJEP funding as part of the first two intakes:

OJEP funding has been committed to the following recipients as part of the third and fourth intakes: