Ontario Junior Exploration Program
Learn about funding to help junior mining companies finance early exploration.
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:
Company name | Approved funding amount |
---|---|
5007223 Ontario Inc. | $150,000 |
BTU Metals Corp. | $172,000 |
Canadian Gold Miner Corp. | $200,000 |
Manitou Gold Inc. | $200,000 |
Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. | $200,000 |
Northstar Gold Corp. | $57,605 |
Pelangio Exploration Inc. | $150,000 |
Prosper Gold Corp. | $200,000 |
Red Pine Exploration Inc. | $200,000 |
Transition Metals Corp. | $71,857 |
Tyko Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
VR Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
Company name | Approved funding amount |
---|---|
Angus Gold Inc. | $200,000 |
ALX Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
Canadian Gold Miner Corp. | $200,000 |
Copper Lake Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
Cross River Ventures Corp. | $95,890 |
Delta Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
Dynasty Gold Corp. | $200,000 |
EnviroMine Inc. | $200,000 |
EV Nickel Inc. | $200,000 |
Exiro Minerals Corp. | $200,000 |
First Class Metals Canada | $200,000 |
Golden Goliath Resources | $169,926 |
Goldseek Resources Inc. | $30,722 |
Griftco Corp. | $66,035 |
Harfang Exploration Inc. | $72,204 |
Hemlo Explorers Inc. | $200,000 |
Heritage Mining Ltd. | $200,000 |
Insight Exploration Inc. | $93,492 |
International Lithium Corp. | $200,000 |
Kesselrun Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
Manitou Gold Inc. | $200,000 |
Mantra Exploration Inc. | $36,733 |
MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. | $200,000 |
Midex Resources Ltd. | $103,574 |
New Break Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
Pavey Ark | $63,473 |
Platinex Inc. | $80,000 |
Red Pine Exploration Inc. | $200,000 |
Sparton Resources Inc. | $10,574 |
SPC Nickel Corp. | $200,000 |
Transition Metals | $144,071 |
Ursa Major Minerals Inc. | $161,781 |
Val d’Or Mining Corp. | $89,437 |
VR Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
Warrior Gold Inc. | $196,728 |
Whitefish Exploration Inc. | $58,150 |
OJEP funding has been committed to the following recipients as part of the third intake:
Company name | Approved funding amount |
---|---|
ALX Resources Corp. | $200,000 |
Angus Gold Inc. | $200,000 |
Ashley Gold Corp. | $41,113 |
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. | $200,000 |
Brady Mining | $112,460 |
Canada Critical Resources Corp. | $200,000 |
Canada One – Abitibi East | $144,459 |
Canada Silver Cobalt Works Inc. | $104,386 |
Canadian Gold Miner Corp. | $192,250 |
Delta Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
E2Gold Inc. | $200,000 |
EGR Exploration Ltd. | $200,000 |
EnviroMine Inc. | $155,588 |
EQN Canada Inc. | $200,000 |
EV Nickel Inc. | $200,000 |
Exiro Minerals Corp. | $200,000 |
Falcon Mining Inc. | $200,000 |
Goldshore Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
Hemlo Explorers Inc. | $200,000 |
Heritage Mining Ltd. | $200,000 |
Imagine Lithium Inc. | $200,000 |
Inventus Mining Corp. | $176,800 |
JoBina Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
Kenorland Minerals Ltd. | $200,000 |
Kesselrun Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
Kingsview Minerals Ltd. | $197,460 |
Lican Exploration Inc. | $200,000 |
Lost Hope Mine Ltd. | $8,246 |
MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. | $200,000 |
Melkior Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
Midex Resources Ltd. | $165,900 |
Mink Ventures Corp. | $77,405 |
Money Money Money | $27,494 |
New Break Resources Ltd. | $70,000 |
Newpath Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. | $200,000 |
Nortec Minerals Corp. | $200,000 |
Platinex Inc. | $200,000 |
Prospector Metals Corp. | $200,000 |
Prosper Gold Corp. | $200,000 |
Red Pine Exploration Inc. | $200,000 |
Rich Copper Exploration Corp. | $48,105 |
Rift Lithium Inc. | $71,263 |
Rockridge Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
Sky Gold Corp. | $200,000 |
Solstice Gold Corp. | $200,000 |
SPC Nickel Corp. o/a “SPC Metals” | $200,000 |
Storm Exploration Inc. | $64,125 |
Thunder Gold Corp. | $148,500 |
Transition Metals Corp. | $200,000 |
Tyko Resources Inc. | $200,000 |
VR Resources Ltd. | $200,000 |
Weekapaug Lithium Subco Inc. | $100,000 |
Whitefish Exploration Inc. | $46,650 |