Deadline: 31-Jul-2025
The Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) is a government initiative aimed at encouraging early-stage mineral exploration in Ontario. It supports the discovery of new and existing minerals, including critical minerals, to help build a pipeline of future mines and create jobs across the province.
By covering eligible exploration costs, the program helps reduce financial risk for private investors and strengthens Ontario’s position as a leading mining destination. Early exploration, often led by junior companies, is essential for uncovering future mining opportunities.
OJEP aims to increase mineral exploration, attract investment, promote critical mineral development, and encourage Indigenous employment and participation in exploration activities. The program includes two streams: the Critical Minerals Stream for projects focused on minerals listed in Ontario’s Critical Minerals List, and the Exploration Stream for other mineral targets.
The program offers $10 million in total funding, with $4 million dedicated to critical minerals. Prospectors can receive up to $50,000 per project and junior mining companies up to $200,000. Both can receive an additional $15,000 to support Indigenous participation, bringing the total possible funding to $65,000 for prospectors and $215,000 for junior companies.
Eligible exploration activities include grid establishment, geophysical, geological, and geochemical surveys, overburden stripping, trenching, sampling, and core drilling. All activities must be supported by qualified mapping and reporting.
Additional funding is available to encourage Indigenous participation. This includes support for training, employment, and procurement from Indigenous businesses for supplies, services, and transportation related to the exploration project.
To qualify for funding, applicants must be junior mining companies or prospectors with a market cap up to $100 million. They must be registered in the Ontario Business Registry and propose a grassroots exploration project in Ontario. Applicants must also provide valid insurance coverage, be enrolled in the Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS), and hold and maintain the necessary mining land tenure for the duration of the project.
The ministry must be informed if there is any transfer of relevant mining lands during the project.
For more information, visit Government of Ontario.
