Meet the Miners 2025: The Future is Mined in Ontario
On October 29, 2025, the Ontario Mining Association (OMA) hosted its 47th annual ‘Meet the Miners’ event, in partnership with Ontario's Ministry of Energy and Mines. It was held at the University of Toronto—one of the world’s top institutions for mining research and home to a leading Mineral and Mining Engineering program—and MaRS, Canada's largest urban innovation hub, with additional meetings held across the legislative precinct at Queen’s Park Complex. This exclusive gathering brought together members of the Legislative Assembly and public office holders, mining executives and community partners. The goal was to spark meaningful conversations on building a resilient, innovation-driven minerals sector that supports a made-in-Canada supply chain, strengthens Ontario, and advances Indigenous reconciliation.
“This year’s Meet the Miners is held at a very fitting location,” said Frank Demers, OMA Chair and Director of Ontario Mines at Vale. “Mining is fundamental to driving the transformational changes that will create long-term value for Ontario communities. Responsible mining here in Ontario provides the essential minerals and metals that power our daily lives—whether it’s for our continental energy security, the digital economy, defence systems, advanced manufacturing or other sectors that are critical to Canadian sovereignty and prosperity. Our sector is dedicated to developing innovative solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships, and we’re adopting clean tech at a faster pace than most industries.”
“We are grateful to our co-host, Minister Lecce, Minister Pirie for his opening address, and all the Ministers, MPPs and civil servants who took the time to meet with our members today,” said OMA President, Priya Tandon. “This has been a truly valuable opportunity for industry leaders to connect directly with policymakers, gain valuable insights into their priorities, engage in meaningful discussions on key issues impacting our sector and build lasting relationships that can help drive positive change.”
The day began with an inspiring address by Hon. George Pirie, Ontario’s Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. Minister Pirie emphasized the crucial role mining must play in helping Canadians navigate the current geopolitical context and trade realignment, positioning Ontario to emerge stronger. “Miners don’t walk away from tough problems – we face them and tackle them,” he asserted. He stressed that “we have what the world needs,” and underscored the government’s efforts to provide the necessary tools and support to enable Ontario miners to efficiently extract vital resources from the ground to “fortify our economy against the economic threats we face”.
Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce recently made a passionate case for how mining can fuel the Ontario economy and do good for the world on This Is Mining: The Podcast: Mines, Minds, and Minister Stephen Lecce. He chose ‘Meet the Miners’ day to unveil the first mine project designated under Ontario’s ‘One Project, One Process’ (1P1P) framework. “With President Trump taking direct aim at our economy, our government is protecting our workers and communities by building mines faster,” said Minister Lecce. “We’re moving away from foreign dependence toward Canadian self-reliance by designating Frontier Lithium’s PAK Project as the first under our new ‘One Project, One Process’ framework. This will accelerate the permitting related to development of Canada’s largest and North America’s highest-grade lithium mine to create good-paying jobs, strengthen Canada’s supply chain and counter Chinese critical mineral dominance.” This announcement marks a key step in modernizing Ontario’s fragmented permitting system for advanced exploration and mine development and building a fully integrated and self-reliant critical minerals supply chain in Ontario.
The OMA sees a valuable opportunity to extend this progress beyond individual projects, while maintaining Ontario’s steadfast commitments to safety, environmental stewardship, and meaningful Indigenous partnerships. With 36 active mines contributing nearly $24 billion dollars to Ontario’s GDP, and over 22,000 people directly employed — earning wages nearly double the provincial average — it’s clear that our operating mines are essential to Ontario's success. OMA members welcomed the opportunity to share industry facts and figures and to engage with provincial public officials, advocating for mining to be recognized as a strategic priority at Queen’s Park, necessitating a whole-of-government approach.
The day concluded with a networking reception dedicated to celebrating leadership and encouraging collaboration among industry, government, and other key stakeholders. In her opening remarks, Priya Tandon expressed her appreciation to everyone present for building partnerships, sharing innovative ideas, and pooling talent and resources to advance Ontario’s mining sector. Minister Lecce once again highlighted the vital role of Ontario's mining sector amidst today's challenging geopolitical landscape, reaffirming the government’s commitment to “reducing red tape, so we can get to ‘yes’.” Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition of Ontario, captured the collective mood when she stated, “Nobody does mining better than Ontario.” She was joined by Jamie West, MPP for Sudbury, Opposition Critic for Energy and Mines as well as Labour, and a longtime advocate for Ontario’s miners. Ted Hsu, MPP for Kingston and the Islands and the Liberal Party’s Critic for Energy, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, and Agriculture and Rural Issues, highlighted the industry’s drive to innovate and adopt advanced technology. Meanwhile, Mike Schreiner, Leader of Ontario’s Green Party, emphasized that “We will not have a transition to a green economy without mining.”
“‘Meet the Miners’ is truly centered on leadership and imagining a stronger, more promising future,” said Frank Demers. “It goes beyond simply exchanging ideas; it’s an important opportunity to recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of everyone involved. We take pride in highlighting the dedication and hard work of industry and government leaders, whose combined efforts help strengthen and uplift our communities.”
The OMA sincerely appreciates everyone who contributed to fostering meaningful conversations at ‘Meet the Miners’ 2025. Special gratitude goes to our generous sponsors for their invaluable support!
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