This study explores the opportunities and challenges that the rising mineral demand brings to First Nations and local communities in Northern Ontario. It identifies good practices and policy actions to enhance First Nations’ engagement in mining and capitalise on resource wealth for greater regional well-being.
Amid increasing global demand for minerals and trade disruptions, OECD countries are advancing strategies to secure reliable domestic mineral supply. In this context, balancing mining competitiveness with host communities’ well-being is critical to the resilience of mining projects and regional development.
Canada and Ontario are also looking to accelerate mining project approvals and attract investment, much of it aimed at unlocking Northern Ontario’s mineral capacity. As a strategic, mineral-rich region, Northern Ontario is thus vital to national and provincial economic goals. It leads nationally in gold and nickel production, hosts most of Ontario’s mines, and accounts for one-fifth of national exploration spending.
Many of these mineral-related projects in the region will require consultation with First Nations, who have lived in the territory since time immemorial and established treaties with the Crown (Government of Canada) that define the current legal and political framework for Indigenous rights, land use, and mining activity. Northern Ontario lies on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe peoples, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, Saulteaux, Algonquin, as well as the Cree and Oji-Cree Nations.
The study highlights that Northern Ontario has various assets that can help leverage mining to generate greater regional well-being. The region features important advancements of First Nations’ participation in mining, with leading examples recognised across the OECD in areas such as equity sharing and economic participation. It also benefits from a network of educational and research institutions with strong expertise in mining and Indigenous topics, alongside a wide supply of federal and provincial programmes that support capacity building and funding accessibility for all players in the mining ecosystem.
However, the region needs to better co-ordinate mining activities to address persistent disparities in living standards, particularly for First Nations, and to enhance local economic opportunities. A top priority is strengthening opportunities for First Nations’ engagement in mining activity, as they continue to lag in many socioeconomic indicators, such as income, which remains 14% below the regional average. At the same time, improving the innovation ecosystem, local labour markets, and community infrastructure is crucial for both mining competitiveness and prosperity for the region. Effective implementation of a place-based mining policy requires enhanced municipal and First Nations planning and funding capacity, with improved multi-level government co-ordination, to maximise long-term local benefits from mining.
This study identifies 11 recommendations across three thematic areas to help policy and governance frameworks adopt a more coordinated, place-based approach for mining development in Northern Ontario. It draws on insights from the 2024 OECD Conference of Mining Regions and Cities in Sudbury and two field visits across Northern Ontario. This work is part of the OECD Mining Regions and Cities Initiative, supporting policies to enhance competitiveness and well-being of mining areas, within the OECD’s broader regional development agenda. The report was submitted for comments to the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee [CFE/RDPC/RUR(2025)5] via written procedure on 1 September 2025.