CHAPLEAUEXPRESS
RobertFifehonouredwith CJFLifetimeAchievementAward
Provided by The Canadian Journalism Foundation
TheCanadianJournalismFoundation’s(CJF)
LifetimeAchievementAwardthisyeargoes toRobertFifeinrecognitionofhisdecadeslong career exemplifying the highest standards of political reporting, public-interest journalism and newsroom leadership in both print and broadcast. His ongoing work has helped set the national agenda through fearless, rigorous reporting and journalism that has consistently exposed issues of profound national consequence and strengthened the public’s understanding of Canada’s political institutions.
“Atatimewhenjournalismanddemocracy are under attack, few journalists have had such a direct impact on Canadian democracy as Robert Fife,” says Lifetime Achievement Award jury member Hamlin Grange, veteran broadcast journalist and Principal Consultant, DiversiPro. “Among other things, his reporting has forced governments to be held accountable. His stories didn’tjustinformthepublic,theychangedlaws.”
Fife will be honoured at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 10 at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto. For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities, see contact information below or visittheCJFAwardspage.
Currently,theOttawaBureauChiefforThe Globe and Mail, Fife is one of Canada’s most respected political journalists and is known for breaking some of the most consequential political stories in modern Canadian journalism. In 2019, he revealed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had pressured Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould regardingtheprosecution of SNC-Lavalin,igniting the SNC-Lavalin affair thatledtoherresignation.
He has also led extensive reporting on allegations of foreign interference in Canadian politics, including claimsthatChinaattemptedto influence the 2021 federal election.Thiscoveragehelped prompt a public inquiry and garnered Fife the 2024 Sidney HillmanPrize.
Earlier in his career, while serving as Ottawa Bureau Chief for CTV, Fife broke the story that Nigel Wright, chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, had given Senator Mike Duffy a $90,000 cheque to repay disputedSenateexpenses.This led to greater transparency on how senators spend public money. He also received several awards for an investigation into sanitary conditions at XL Foods, resultinginthetransferoffood safety inspections from the department of Agriculture to Health.
“Given the constant flow of information, it is easy for a parliamentary journalisttogowiththeflowandstayinthepack,” says national affairs columnist and commentator Chantal Hébert, a member of the Lifetime Achievement Award jury. “Robert Fife, over his decades in journalism, has led the pack by consistentlybreakingstoriesthatmattered.”
FifehaswonmultipleNationalNewspaper Awards and Canadian Association of Journalists honours, and is the only journalist in the ParliamentaryPressGallerytohavetwicereceived theCharlesLynchAwardforoutstandingcoverage of national affairs. In 2025, he received the
Michener-Baxter Award for his decades-long contribution to public-interest journalism, recognizing his leadership, mentorship and influential reporting across outlets including The GlobeandMail,theNationalPostandCTVNews. Laterthisyear,hewillreceivetheHymanSolomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism fromPublicPolicyForum.
“Robert Fife is incomparable,” says RosemaryThompson,formerDeputyBureauChief of CTV’s Parliamentary Bureau in Ottawa and member of the CJF LifetimeAchievementAward Selection Committee, calling Fife a “uniquely Cont’donP.2
Chapleaunative,RobertFife
OBITUARY
Phylis Prince (née Zolob)
It is with great love and sadness that we announce the loss of Phyllis Prince (née Zolob),whopassedawayonMarch11,2026, following a courageous battle with breast cancer. She now joins her first husband, Jim, whopassedbeforeher.
Phyllis is survived by her daughters Lory (Andrew) Lillie, Corrine (Ken) Kaufman, Susan Firlotte, and Sharon (Bob) Perrier; grandchildren Jennifer and Steven Lillie, Jeffrey (Emma) Kaufman, Sarah (Mark) Van Osch, and Rebecca and Meagan Firlotte; greatgrandchildren Alexander Kaufman, Grace, Jack, and Finnley Van Osch,andKahlanFirlotte.Sheisalsosurvivedbyhersecondhusband David Borisenko; step-children Shannon (Bert) Lemke and Shaun (Pam) Borisenko; step-grandchildren Alisha (Kun) Wee and Ashley (Zac)Collie;andstep-great-grandchildrenKobiandJiaWee.
BorninTimmins,Ontario,in1940toDanandMaryZolob,she remainedaNorthernOntariolocalatheartformostofherlife.
Phyllis was an accomplished painter and avid gardener. She was particularly known for her paintings of the Northern Ontario landscapessheloved.Inthelate1970's,sheservedasthePresidentof the Porcupine Art Club. Her professional legacy lives on in The Chapleau Express. Upon moving to Chapleau in her retirement, she andherhusbandJimPrincefoundedthenewspaper.
Phyllis and Jim were married in 1959 and shared 50 years together until his death in 2009. In later years she met and married David,whereshelivedouttherestofherlifeinKelowna,BC,untilher recentpassing.
Memorial Donations in Phyllis' honour can be made to the CanadianCancerSociety,www.cancer.ca.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com.
Enhancingenforcement,expeditingprojectdevelopment among
newhighwaysafetymeasures
Province announced slew of actions aimed at boosting Highway 11-17 safety
ByNorthernOntarioBusinessStaff
Enhanced enforcement and speeding up development projects are amongtheimprovementstheprovincial government announced March 20, with the intention of increasing safety on Highways11and17.
George Pirie, minister of economic development and growth, announced the measures in a news release.
“Our government is keenly awarehowimportantsaferoads,bridges and highways are to the residents, visitorsandbusinessesintheNorthwho rely on them daily,” Pirie said in the release.
“Thatiswhywearetakingaction toimprovesafety,increaseenforcement andmaketargetedinvestmentsthatwill keep people safe and goods moving, while strengthening connections between northern and remote communities.”
Cont’dfromP.1 talented journalist and one of the best reportersIhaveeverworkedwith.”
Thomson adds: “His ability to break stories of enormous national consequence is extraordinary, but what truly sets him apart is the way he works: with relentless commitment to the truth, deeprespectforsourcesandaremarkable spirit of collaboration. Canada is a better country because Bob Fife has spent his careerreportingonit.”
Fife is also author of three books on Canadian politics, includingACapital Scandal:Politics,PatronageandPayoff.
Fifejoinsadistinguishedgroupof CJFLifetimeAchievementAwardwinners including: Bob McKeown, Phillip Crawley, Haroon Siddiqui, Michelle Ouillet, Kim Bolan, John Honderich, Thaioronióhte Dan David, Peter Mansbridge, Jean Pelletier, Lloyd Robertson, Michel Auger, Peter Bregg, Jack Sigvaldason, Lise Bissonnette, Joe Schlesinger, Sally Armstrong, Knowlton Nash,JuneCallwoodandTrinaMcQueen. AbouttheLifetimeAchievementAward
The annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a Canadian who has made an outstanding lifetime contribution over multiple decades to journalism. Individuals who have worked in any type of media (print, broadcast, digital) and in
Pressure has been mounting from community leaders, safety advocates and organizations calling for improvements to Highways 11 and 17, including more four-laning, better training for transport truck drivers, and the implementation of the longpromised2+1highwaymodel.
Most recently the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) called for the Highway 11/17 corridor to be designated “critical national infrastructure” to be afforded the same level of priority as major highways through the rest of the province.
AlistoftheupgradesannouncedMarch 20follows:
The province is making the Highway 11/17corridorsaferby: Cont’donP.5
The move comes following a deadly winter in Northern Ontario, which recorded several serious collisions, including several that resultedinfatalities.
any journalism category (news, business, politics, sports, editorial cartoons, arts, etc.) are eligible for consideration. The recipient will have consistently demonstrated,throughouthis/hercareer,a commitment to the highest journalistic standards and ideals. Their work and contributiontothefieldandsocietyshould serveasamodelthatinspiresexcellencein others.
Criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award:
Amongtheitemstobeconsideredare: Body of journalistic work during a multidecadecareer
Contribution to their community and broader society through outstanding journalism
Recognition and respect from peers and audiences
**Note: LifetimeAchievement cannot be awardedposthumously.
JudgingMethodology
Thejudgingpaneliscomprisedof four to eight jurors (with bilingual representatives),whoreviewallsubmitted entries through an online portal, rank the entries and then attend a face-to-face meeting or participate via conference call with their rankings to agree upon the recipientoftheaward.
Therecipientwillberecognizedat theCJFAwardsceremonyinJune2026.
RobertFifehonouredwith CJFLifetimeAchievementAward
Moments
Fromthearchives of Chapleau
MichaelJ. Morris
From its first "pony express" which broughtmilktoitsfirstcustomersuntilitceased deliveries,theAlgomaDairyinChapleauhadan enviablerecordofnevermissingaday,according to newspaper articles about the family business thatservedthecommunityforjustover75years.
OnJuly4,1921,thefirstdeliveryofmilk went out to a few customers of the business established by Walter and Emily Broomhead withtotalassetsofonecow,acartandaShetland pony.
The steady growth over the years was "notachievedbychance"butbytheeffortsofMr. Broomhead, his wife and their three sons, Jim, Walter and Arthur, according to a newspaper reportaboutthefamilybusiness35yearslater.
AlgomaDairyhadenviablerecordofmilkdelivery inChapleaustartingwith'ponyexpress'in1921
In due course they eventuallyhadaherdof84cattle, a farm, where two of their grandchildrenstilllivetoday,and the pony express delivery gave way to an insulated milk truck. By 1939, they had the Algoma Dairy building at the intersection of Birch and Young Streets.
As the business had grown they dispensed with the herd of cattle and had milk shipped from the Larchwood area which was processed at the dairy. One newspaper story relates that during a Canadian PacificRailwaystrike,theyhada truck travel over Highway 129 dailytoBlindRivertopickupthe milkandreturntoChapleausame day.
They kept pace with modernization, and added the latestinequipment.SonsJimand Walter joined the business and when their younger brother Arthur did a bit later, Margaret Costelloaskedwhathedid.
Jokingly, the older brothers replied, "Well he's supposed to do as he's told but generallyends up doingwhathe pleases."Arthur became the last brother to be actively involved withthefamilybusiness.
When Mr. Broomhead died in 1940, Mrs. Broomhead and her sons continued the business.
In1956,MargaretCostellopaidtributeto Mrs.Broomheadforher"tremendousvitalityand indomitable spirit that pulled her through early struggles (including the death of her husband) -- combined with a lively sense of humour".
The story also notedthatin1956that Algoma Dairy would be one of the oldest family owned businesses in Chapleau that had never changed hands having been establishedin1921.
The Boston Café owned by the Hong family would be another. Charles W. Collins storescelebrates90yearswiththeCollinsname in2018,andstilloperatedbyfamilymembers.
Arriving in Chapleau in 1912, Mr. and Mrs. Broomhead purchased property on King Street which at the time was a "mixture of bush andmud"andbuiltthefirsthousethere.
Obtaining milk was a problem for families with young children so they bought a cow to solve it, and their neighbours who faced the same situation became their first customers andtheirbusinesswasstartedin1921.
Asgovernmentregulationsincreased,the dairy adapted constantly upgrading the business butstillnevermissingaday'sdelivery.
Like so many Chapleau people I have such fond memories of milk being delivered to Cont'dourdoordailyasCont’donP.7
SomemembersoftheenterprisingChapleaufamilyare,leftto right,FrankBroomhead,13,whoraisesturkeys,Mrs.Walter BroomheadSr.andRossBroomhead,14.(PhotosbyCostello)
Walter Broomhead and son Ross, pose with two white-face yearlings.
TheRoadToTophetInksWorldWideDistributionDeal
byStevenEllwood
More than a decade after its initial release,THEROADTOTOPHETannounced that it has just inked a world wide distribution deal with a Californian distributor that specializes in bringing independent films and foreigncinematomajordigitalplatforms.
The locally shot bilingual feature film, with narration by Adam Beach, won rave reviewsandgarneredawardsinCanada,theUS andaroundtheworld. ItpremieredatToronto Independent Film Festival in 2014, winning Best Micro-Budget Feature. It went on to a steadystreamoffestivalwinsoverthenextfew years including Best Director at the Greenbay Film Fest In 2015; Best Screenplay at the Independent Filmmaker's Festival Berlin in
2016; Best Canadian Feature at the Canada Independent Film Fest (Montreal), 2017; a Special Commendation for Direction from the
IndividualFined
forIllegalMooseHunt
AnindividualfromNortheasternOntario has been fined $730 for the following moose huntingviolations:
DonaldGosselinofLarderLakepleaded guiltytofailingtoproperlyattachaninvalidated moose tag and failing to produce a licence to a conservationofficer.Hewasfinedatotalof$730 and received a lifetime prohibition from possessing an Ontario hunting licence and engaginginanyhuntingactivitiesinOntario.In addition, his firearm was permanently forfeited totheCrownandthemoosewasdonated.
TheOntarioCourtofJusticeheardthaton November 11, 2024, conservation officers conductedavehiclestoponLarderStationRoad in the Larder Lake area. Gosselin was returning from his hunting camp with his rifle on the
passengerseat.Uponinspection,Gosselindenied harvesting a moose to the conservation officers. Followingfurtherinvestigation,itwasfoundthat Gosselin had harvested a moose and kept it at a nearby house. The moose did not have a tag attachedaspertheOntarioHuntingRegulations.
Justice of the Peace Wade R. Cachagee heard the case remotely in the Ontario Court of Justice,Haileybury,onNovember13,2025.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, membersofthepubliccancalltheministryTIPS linetollfreeat1-877-847-7667.Youcanalsocall Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases,pleasevisitontario.ca/MNRTips.
Scottish Independent Film Festival in 2019; andBestFeatureatSaultFilmFestivalin 2020. The film was honoured to screen in NewYork City in 2017 at the Anthology Film Archives where a copy of the film is now permanently archived. LastyearTHEROADTOTOPHET screened at White Owl Film Studio, at Wahnapitae First Nation near Sudbury, as part oftheannualCanadaFilmDaycelebrations. This deal cements THE ROAD TO TOPHET's burgeoning status as a cult classic withstayingpowerandwillintroducethefilm to new audiences around the world. The filmmakers express their deep gratitude to the community of Chapleau and acknowledge the contribution of the many many people and organizations without whose help the film could not have been made. Team work really doesmakethedreamwork.
ChristineTeixeira-MollyandSamuel Thivierge-Charlie
CastandCrewatToronto Premiere
FONOM BoardAdvancesNorthernPrioritiesatMeetinginKirklandLake
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) Board of Directors convenedinKirklandLakeonMarch20,2026,to address key priorities impacting Northern Ontariocommunities,includinghighwaysafety, housing, health care, and municipal sustainability.
The Board was welcomed by Mayor Stacy Wight, along with CAO Alan Smith and Clerk Jennifer Montreuil, who met with FONOMmembersonThursdayeveningtoshare local best practices, current challenges, and preparationsfortheupcomingmunicipalelection cycle.Thediscussionprovidedvaluable,on-theground insight into municipal governance in NorthernOntario.
FONOM greatly appreciates the opportunitytomeetdirectlywithlocalleadership inKirklandLake,"saidDavePlourde,President of FONOM. "These conversations ensure that ouradvocacyisgroundedintherealexperiences of Northern municipalities and reflects the
diversechallengescommunitiesarefacing." KeyDiscussionsandAdvocacyPriorities
DuringtheBoardmeeting,memberscontinuedto advanceseveralkeyadvocacyfiles:
! Northern Highway Safety and Capacity: FONOM reaffirmed its strong commitment to the multi-laning of Highways 11 and 17, including twinning and 2+1 models. The Board discussed ongoing efforts to secure provincial and federal commitments and emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum on this nation-buildingcorridor.
! FONOM Conference 2026 – Timmins: Preparationsarewellunderwayfortheupcoming annual conference, taking place May 11–13, 2026, hosted by the City ofTimmins.Theevent will bring together municipal leaders and partnersfromacrosstheNorthtodiscussshared prioritiesandopportunities.
! ContinuedAdvocacy Efforts:The Board reviewed progress on Queen's Park advocacy, federal engagement, and strategic
communications efforts aimed at elevating Northern Ontario priorities on a provincial and nationalstage.
PresentationsInformBoardDiscussions FONOM welcomed three guest presenters who provided valuable insights on criticalissues:
! Patrick Chouinard, Element5, presented on the use of mass timber and panelized constructionasaninnovativesolutiontoaddress housingshortagesinNorthernOntario,including opportunities tied to the forestry sector and miningdevelopment.
! David McNeil, President and CEO of Health Sciences North, shared regional health care data, highlighted current and future system pressures, and emphasized the importance of collaborationacrossNorthernhospitals.Healso expressed a willingness to work closely with FONOM to support improved health outcomes acrosstheregion.
Cont’donP.8
Enhancingenforcement,expeditingprojectdevelopment amongnewhighwaysafetymeasures
Cont’dfromP.2
! Increasing the number of Transportation EnforcementOfficersinNorthernOntario
! Expanding enforcement blitzes along the
Highway 11/17 corridor between truck inspection stations to ensure trucks are safe and driversfollowtherulesoftheroad
! Deploying two mobile inspectionsupportunitsinspring 2026 to increase truck enforcement along the Highway 11/17corridor
! Launching procurement in spring2026torebuildtheHearst truck inspection station and replacetheweighscale
! Improving and upgrading highway signage for better visibility
! Installingnewportablevariable messagingsignstoprovidebetter safety information to drivers about weather conditions and closures
! Advancing preliminary design work to expand Highway 11/17 between Thunder Bay and Shabaqua,includingschedulinga publicmeetinginspring2026
! Upgrading the provincial rest areanetworkinNorthernOntario toprovidemoreyear-roundtruck parking and working with municipal and business partners to expand capacity, including a new service hub facility in
Mathesonthatwillallowmoretruckstopulloff safelyduringwinterstorms
! Continuing to work with stakeholder groups, including the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and the Ontario Road Builders’Associationonfurtherimprovements.
Rick Dumas, NOMA's president, welcomedtheannouncement,praisingPirieand Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria for listeningtoNorthernOntarians’concerns.
“These actions demonstrate that when governments collaborate with northern communities,wecanmakemeaningfulprogress toward building a safer, more modern TransCanada Highway system that supports our people, our industries and Canada’s supply chains,"Dumassaidintherelease.
Dave Plourde, president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), echoed those thoughts in his own comments.
"FONOM is pleased to see continued investments aimed at improving safety and reliabilityonHighways11and17,”Plourdesaid intherelease.
“These are important steps for northern communities.Asconversationscontinue,wewill remain focused on supporting long-term enhancements that reflect the significance of these highways to Northern Ontario and to Canadaasawhole."
Lastweekssolutions
MOMENTS IN TIME
On April 12, 1954, Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "(We're Gonna) RockAround The Clock," which they'd been performing live for months, during the final 40 minutes of a three-hour recordingsessioninNewYorkCitythathadactuallybeensetup forasongcalled"ThirteenWomen(andOnlyOneManinTown)." Afterthetunewaschosentoplayovertheopeningcreditsofthe film "Blackboard Jungle," it became a pop sensation, selling a millioncopiesinonemonthin1955.
NorthernHighwaysneedrealaction,notsame recycledpromisesbyFordgovernment
Following two weeks of the NDP NorthernTour:OurHighways,OurSafety,which travelled across northern Ontario along Highways11and17,andincluded NDPLeader Marit Stiles and MPPs John Vanthof (Timiskaming—Cochrane), Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk—James Bay), Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong), Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay—Superior North), Jamie West (Sudbury), and France Gélinas (Nickel Belt), Doug Ford's Conservatives have finally conceded and announced commitments to maintaining these highways.
“After years of pressure and the NDP NorthernTour,thisgovernmentisfinallypaying attention,” said MPP Bourgouin. “However, we've heard these promises before while lives continuetobeputatrisk.Thegovernmentcannot keep recycling talking points while diverting resourcesawayfromtheNorth.Peopledeserveto know when real construction and safety improvements will happen, not just more words withoutactionoraccountability.”
MPPVanthof added: “After years of delays and broken commitments, northern families are still waiting for safe, reliable highways. Announcements won't fix dangerous conditions
ChapleauMoments
Cont’dfromP.3 IwasgrowingupinourhomeonGreyStreet,first byJimandlaterbyArthur.
When I was a youngster on my way to visit my grandparents Lil (Mulligan) and Harry Morris on Elgin Street (the other side of town), quiteoftenIwouldmeetJimonthemilktruck.He never failed to tell me to say "hello" to my grandparentsfromhim.
All the Broomhead family have made a significant contribution to many aspects of the life and times of Chapleau for over 100 years now. Grandchildren and great grandchildren of Emily and Walter Broomhead still do. The AlgomaDairyclosedin1997.
overnight. We need real timelines, transparent funding, and follow-through to ensure Highway 11/17 meets the safety standards our communitiesdeserveeverysingleday.”
“Thesehighwaysarelifelines,”saidMPP Mamakwa. “Safety cannot be optional or delayed. This government must work directly with northern and First Nations communities to deliver infrastructure that reflects our realities and ensures people can travel safely for care, work,andfamily.”
“People in Thunder Bay and across the Northwest have been clear; we need real investment, not the same empty promises. This corridoriscriticaltooureconomyandsafety,and whenitgetsshutdownduetocollisions,itshuts downtheeconomyaswell.Thegovernmentmust stop delaying and start delivering meaningful changesandthatincludesregulatingthetraining of commercial drivers and regulating the trucking industry. The industry wants this; the drivers want this; and the people who use these highwayseverydayasourmainstreetswantthis. It'stimethegovernmentfinallyacknowledgesits responsibility and acts!” MPP Lise Vaugeois (ThunderBay—SuperiorNorth)
“Communities in and around Sudbury rely on these highways every day. We cannot accept another cycle of announcements without results. Investments must be sustained and focusedonsafetysopeopleandgoodscanmove reliably, especially during harsh northern
Pimii Kamik Gas Bar &
winters.”
MPPJamieWest(Sudbury)
“Families in Nickel Belt have waited far toolongformeaningfulimprovementsandhave growntiredofpastpromisesnotbeingdelivered. NorthernOntariodeservessafe,well-maintained highways that reflect their importance to our communities, and the entire provincial economy.”
· MPPFranceGélinas(NickelBelt)
OntarioInvestsin68NewMinesoftheFuturetoBolsterSelf-Reliance
Province supporting the next generation of mineral discoveries to build made-inOntario supply chains, create jobs and unlock economic growth in the North
Today, as part of its plan to build a more competitive,resilientandself-relianteconomy,the Ontario government is boosting the critical mineralsandminingsectorsbysupporting68early exploration projects through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program. This investment will help junior exploration companies and licensed prospectorsfindtheminesofthefuturebycovering eligible costs for mineral exploration and development, supporting 71 jobs across northern andruralcommunitiesandgeneratinganestimated $18millionintotaleconomicoutput.
Ontariorecentlylaunchedconsultationsto modernize its Critical Mineral Strategy, with a focus on strengthening the mining sector by reducing red tape and investing in early mineral exploration. The province’s plan will help unlock untapped economic potential, bolster Canadian self-reliance, boost job creation and secure madein-Ontario supply chains, while reinforcing our leadershipasthenumberonejurisdictioninCanada inexplorationanddepositappraisalexpenditures.
“To boost Canada’s self-reliance, Ontario is investing heavily in early exploration to build a pipelinefornewminesandnewjobs,”saidStephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “We overhauledourpermittingsystem,whileinvesting heavily in early exploration, resulting in Ontario emerging in the top spot for early exploration investment and Canada’s most attractive mining investment jurisdiction. Ontario’s new Critical Minerals Strategy will further double down on earlyexplorationtolaythegroundworkforthenext generation of mines, good-paying jobs and economic growth across northern Ontario. As we
face headwinds of uncertainty, Ontario is accelerating responsible resource development to fortifyoursupplychains,workforce,andeconomy atthiscriticaltime.”
As the world looks for stable, responsible sourcesofcriticalminerals,Ontario’sleadershipin responsible resource development is unlocking neweconomicopportunitiesandinvestmentacross northern Ontario. Early-stage mineral exploration carries significant uncertainty, with only about a one in 1,000 chance of exploration projects becoming a mine. The high costs, long timelines and challenges of working in remote and rugged regions make it difficult for junior companies and prospectorstoattractprivateinvestmentneededto moveprojectsforward.
TheOJEPprogramcoversupto50percent of eligible costs for exploration and development projects. With the addition of the new funding stream and the enhanced Indigenous Participation funding,prospectorswillnowbeeligibletoreceive up to $65,000 per project (including enhanced Indigenous Participation Support) and junior miningcompanieswillbeeligibletoreceiveupto $215,000 per project (including enhanced Indigenous Participation Support). Ontario’s strategic support at this stage helps reduce these barriers and positions Ontario to unlock the new mineral deposits that will drive long-term growth. Today’s investment builds on the $30 million invested in previous rounds of OJEP funding that have helped 213 mining companies finance early exploration projects, with 165 focused on critical minerals.
“Ontario's mineral independence is a
FONOM Board Advances Northern PrioritiesatMeetinginKirklandLake
Cont’dfromP.5
! MP Gaétan Malette (KapuskasingTimmins–Mushkegowuk) discussed federal perspectivesoninfrastructureandintroducedhis resolution supporting improvements to Northern highways, reinforcing the need for coordinated federalandprovincialaction.
ResolutionsReflectMunicipalPriorities
TheBoardconsideredandsupportedawiderange of resolutions brought forward by member municipalities,addressingissuessuchas:
! Sustainable and equitable policing funding
! Highway safety and reclassification of Highways11and17
! Health care access, including concerns relatedtolaboratoryservices
! Housingaffordabilityandhomelessness
! Municipal infrastructure pressures, includingwatersystemsandpublichealthlevies
! Telecommunicationsandconnectivity
! Environmentalandrecyclingpolicies
"These resolutions reflect the priorities andpressuresbeingfeltacrossNorthernOntario," added Plourde. "FONOM will continue to amplify these voices and work collaboratively with all levels of government to deliver meaningfulsolutions."
LookingAhead
FONOM will continue its advocacy efforts in the lead-up to the 2026 Annual Conference in Timmins and remains committed to advancing policies that support strong, resilient,andconnectedNortherncommunities.
cornerstone of our economic sovereignty, and programs like OJEP are essential to maintaining it,” said Steve Virtue, President and CEO of Ontario Prospectors Association. “By supporting the early-stage exploration work that drives discovery, this investment ensures our mining pipeline stays strong and our competitive edge stayssharp.”
OJEP is a key initiative in the government’s plan to update its Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy to position the province as a reliable global supplier of responsibly sourced critical minerals and build fully integrated, madein-Ontariosupplychains.Astheglobaldemandfor critical minerals needed to manufacture batteries, modern defence technologies and advanced manufacturing continues to grow, Ontario has the deposits,skilledworkforce,expertiseandbusinessfriendly investment climate to secure the province’s place as the most competitive jurisdiction in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business.
Ontario is one of the most mineral rich areas in the world with currently 200 companies actively exploring more than 300 projects across theprovince,withamajorityofprojectslocatedin theNorth.
On July 3, 2025, the government opened thecallforapplicationsfortheOJEPprogram.
In 2024, Ontario saw approximately $1.1 billioninmineralexplorationspendinganddeposit appraisal spending, the top investment in Canada forseveralyears,atrenddriveninpartbyprograms likeOJEP.
To date, OJEP has proven its ability to attract global capital, with every $1 of public funding leveraging over $2 in private sector investment.
The government is also investing $500 million to create a new Critical Minerals Processing Fund to provide financial support for projects that accelerate the province’s critical mineral processing capacity and made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain, to ensure that minerals mined in Ontario will be processed in Ontario-by-Ontarioworkers.
• The program supports early exploration activities for a wide range of minerals, including lithium, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements, whicharevitalforcleantechnologiesandadvanced manufacturing.
• The launch of Ontario's 'One Project, One Process' (1P1P) framework is helping streamline governmentpermittingapprovalsby50percentby coordinating regulatory processes across ministries, making it easier, faster and more predictable for companies leading designated advanced exploration and mine development projectsintheprovince.