Agenda
NOVEMBER 23, 2026
5:30-8:30
OPENING RECEPTION
MineConnect Roadshow & Opening Reception for The Ontario Critical Minerals Forum
Location: Chefs Hall (East Hall), 111 Richmond St W, Toronto
Hosted by:
DAY 1: NOVEMBER 24, 2026
8:30-8:40
TERRITORIAL WELCOME
Margaret Sault, Chief, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
8:40-8:45
CHAIR’S REMARKS
Adrienne Baker, Director, Energy and Mines
8:45-9:00
FEDERAL ADDRESS: ADVANCING CANADA’S CRITICAL MINERALS ADVANTAGE
Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Government of Canada
EXECUTING ONTARIO'S CRITICAL MINERALS ADVANTAGE
9:00-9:15
KEYNOTE: BUILDING THE NEXT PHASE OF ONTARIO’S CRITICAL MINERALS VALUE CHAIN
Marc Bédard, Chief Operating Officer, Custom Metallurgical Assets, Glencore Canada
9:15-10:00
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As global competition for critical minerals accelerates, Ontario is entering a new phase of execution. Mining projects, processing facilities, infrastructure investments, financing initiatives, and Indigenous partnerships are moving from planning toward delivery. This opening keynote panel brings together leaders from government, industry, and First Nations to examine what will determine whether Ontario can translate today's momentum into globally competitive projects, integrated supply chains, and long-term economic growth.
How is Ontario’s execution phase for critical minerals development progressing - and where are there still the biggest challenges or disconnects?
Where does Ontario currently have the strongest momentum across mining, First Nations partnerships, processing, infrastructure, financing, and supply chain development — and where does the province still risk falling behind?
As projects, infrastructure corridors, and processing plans move closer toward development, how are expectations around First Nations leadership, ownership, economic participation, and long-term partnership evolving?
What still needs to happen for larger pools of strategic, institutional, and long-term private capital to move more aggressively into Ontario critical minerals projects and supply chain infrastructure?
How is Ontario’s “One Project, One Process” framework working in practice so far, and what will determine whether it meaningfully improves coordination and timelines for major critical minerals and infrastructure projects?
What will determine whether the Ring of Fire successfully moves from long-term potential into large-scale execution?
As the United States, Europe, and allied countries accelerate efforts to secure critical minerals supply chains, what role can Ontario realistically play within emerging North American and Western-aligned industrial ecosystems?
Mark Selby, CEO, Canada Nickel
Linda Debassige, Grand Council Chief, Anishinabek Nation
Alex Forstner, Chief Technology Officer, Cyclic Materials
Alden Greenhouse, CEO, Avenir Minerals and Vice President, Critical & Strategic Minerals, Agnico Eagle Mines
10:00-10:30
NETWORKING BREAK
10:30-10:45
NEW MODELS OF CO-DEVELOPMENT FOR CRITICAL MINERALS
RING OF FIRE UPDATE: FROM LONG-TERM POTENTIAL TO EXECUTION
Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation/Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire, Government of Ontario
10:45-11:30
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As momentum builds around Ontario’s Ring of Fire, new models of collaboration are emerging between First Nations, mining companies, and government. This panel explores how Marten Falls First Nation, Webequie First Nation, Wyloo, and the Government of Ontario are approaching co-development, infrastructure planning, and economic participation — and what this evolving approach could mean for critical minerals projects across Ontario.
What does co-development mean in practice, and how is it shaping decisions around infrastructure, procurement, and long-term economic participation?
How are discussions progressing around timelines, economic opportunities, and community participation as the projects advance?
What types of long-term economic opportunities are communities looking to build through these partnerships beyond the mine itself?
What challenges still remain in aligning mine development, infrastructure planning, environmental reviews, and community priorities across multiple stakeholders?
Bruce Achneepineskum, Chief, Marten Falls First Nation
Luca Giacovazzi, CEO, Wyloo
Lorraine Whitehead, Chief, Webequie First Nation
Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation/Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire, Government of Ontario
THE MIDSTREAM CHALLENGE
11:30-1:05
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As governments and investors accelerate support for critical minerals mining, attention is increasingly turning to the midstream — the processing, refining, separation, and conversion capacity needed to transform mineral resources into strategic supply chains. While significant progress has been made in mine development and downstream manufacturing, the midstream is the most important bottleneck to building secure, competitive, and Western-aligned critical minerals value chains.
11:30-11:50
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Advancing lithium processing and conversion capacity in Northwestern Ontario through industrial partnerships, infrastructure development, and First Nations collaboration
What the project reveals about the energy, infrastructure, financing, and partnership models needed to build competitive downstream processing capacity in Ontario
Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO, Rock Tech Lithium
11:50-12:05
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How Boliden has built competitive, low-carbon processing capacity for critical minerals
The role of trusted partnerships in securing Western critical minerals supply chains
Adapting to increasingly complex feedstocks while maintaining sustainability standards
Daniel Peltonen, President, Boliden Smelters
12:05-12:20
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Developing rare earth separation, processing, and magnet manufacturing capabilities in Europe
Key lessons on feedstock security, customer qualification, technology, financing, and industrial partnerships required to build commercially viable midstream capacity
Rahim Suleman, President and CEO, Neo Performance Materials
12:20-1:05
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As Canada looks to build secure, allied critical minerals supply chains, attention is increasingly turning to the midstream—the processing, refining, separation, and conversion capacity needed to transform mineral resources into strategic industrial supply chains. This panel explores where Canada can build a globally competitive processing advantage, what it will take to attract investment, and how governments, industry, and First Nations can work together to develop the infrastructure, partnerships, and commercial conditions needed to support long-term growth.
What lessons can Canada learn from Europe and other Western allies that have successfully built competitive critical minerals processing capacity?
Where can Canada build a globally competitive advantage in critical minerals processing?
How can First Nations play a leading role in developing the processing facilities, industrial infrastructure, and partnerships needed to build Canada's midstream advantage?
What are the biggest barriers to developing new processing capacity—economics, feedstock, energy, infrastructure, or permitting?
How can provinces work together to build an integrated Canadian critical minerals value chain?
Ian McCallum, Chief Operating Officer, Global Battery Materials
Paul Veldman, CEO, BMI Group
Trent Mell, CEO, Electra Battery Materials
Caleb Behn, CEO, BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council
1:05-1:10
SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS DECISION-MAKING ON CRITICAL MINERALS
Peter McPherson, Managing Partner, Apeiron
1:10-2:10
NETWORKING LUNCH
Sponsored by
FINANCING AND POLICY UPDATES
2:10-3:15
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Governments and public finance institutions are playing an increasingly active role in shaping the future of critical minerals development through infrastructure funding, strategic investment, loan guarantees, processing support, and industrial policy. This session explores how public capital is being mobilized to accelerate mining, infrastructure, processing, and Indigenous partnerships — and what this means for the competitiveness and bankability of Ontario’s critical minerals sector.
2:10-2:25
CANADA’S NEXT PHASE OF CRITICAL MINERALS INVESTMENT
Isabella Chan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Lands and Minerals Sector, Natural Resources Canada
2:25-2:40
DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND CRITICAL MINERALS
Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
2:40-2:55
DE-RISKING CRITICAL MINERALS PROJECTS WITH EQUITY INVESTMENTS
Yannick Beaudoin, President & CEO, Canada Growth Fund Investment Management
2:55-3:20
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What combination of equity, public finance, commercial lending and strategic capital is needed to finance the next generation of Canadian critical minerals projects?
How are governments and lenders sharing risk to help move projects from development into construction?
Which project characteristics are attracting capital today—including Indigenous partnerships, infrastructure readiness, permitting progress and customer demand?
What lessons can other critical minerals projects take from this financing model as they seek to secure the capital needed to move into construction?
Chair: David Rhodes, Managing Director, Endeavour Financial
Jamie Levy, President & CEO, Generation Mining
Tushar Handiekar, Vice President, Structured & Project Finance, Export Development Canada
3:20-3:50
NETWORKING BREAK
3:50-4:05
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Positioning the PAK Lithium Project and Thunder Bay refinery as a strategic priority through aligned federal and provincial support, international partnerships, and coordinated permitting
Building a financeable, Canadian-controlled lithium supply chain in Ontario: from upstream resource development to refining and long-term offtake agreements
What the project reveals about the evolving role of public capital, industrial policy, infrastructure funding, and strategic partnerships
Trevor Walker, President and CEO, Frontier Lithium
4:05-4:20
FROM RESOURCE TO INDUSTRY: BUILDING THE CRITICAL MINERALS VALUE CHAIN
John Kwarta, Strategic Account Executive, Schneider Electric
4:20-5:00
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As governments accelerate industrial policy, infrastructure investment, and supply chain strategies for critical minerals, investors are reassessing where capital can be deployed globally and what types of projects are most likely to succeed. This panel brings together leading equity providers to discuss how they are evaluating opportunities across the critical minerals value chain, where Ontario is competitive internationally, and what is needed to attract larger pools of long-term global investment into the province’s mining, processing, and infrastructure sectors.What types of critical minerals investments are attracting the greatest interest today, and where along the value chain are investors currently seeing the strongest opportunities?
How are investors evaluating critical minerals opportunities differently from traditional mining investments, and what new factors are shaping capital allocation decisions?
As governments increase strategic and industrial policy support for critical minerals, how are investors thinking about the balance between public capital, private capital, and long-term investment certainty?
Where does Ontario currently stand globally on permitting, infrastructure, processing ambitions, and overall investment competitiveness?
Stephen Saunders, Portfolio Manager & Economist, Orion Resource Partners
Sylvain Eckert, Partner, Infravia
Thomas Benjoe, CEO, Flowing River Capital
5:00-5:45
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Ontario’s existing mining operations are a critical foundation of the province’s broader critical minerals ambitions — supporting jobs, infrastructure, processing capacity, regional economies, and established mining ecosystems. This panel explores how brownfield mining operations are looking to extend mine life, unlock new production opportunities, strengthen Indigenous partnerships, and continue evolving to support Ontario’s growing role in global critical mineral supply chains.
As governments focus on new critical minerals development, what role will Ontario’s existing mining regions and brownfield operations play in meeting future demand?
What opportunities exist today to extend operations, unlock additional resources, or modernize existing mining assets in Ontario?
What are the biggest operational or investment challenges in extending the life of existing mines?
What types of investment tools, incentives, or financing partnerships are most needed to support the capital-intensive nature of brownfield mine expansions, and where can governments play the most effective role in helping unlock that investment?
How are partnerships and expectations with First Nations evolving around long-standing mining operations, and what does meaningful long-term collaboration look like today?
What role do existing processing, smelting, and refining assets in Ontario play in supporting the province’s broader critical minerals ecosystem and competitiveness?
Are current policy and permitting frameworks adequately supporting brownfields expansion and operational extensions — or is too much focus still placed on greenfield development?
What does Ontario risk losing if existing mining operations are not successfully extended?
Chair: Priya Tandon, President, Ontario Mining Association
Peter Xavier, Chief Operating Officer, Glencore Canada Metals
Paul Fowler, Executive Vice President, Magna Mining
Jeff Gaulin, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Vale Base Metals
David Galea, Vice President of Business Improvement, Impala Canada
5:45-7:00
NETWORKING DRINKS
DAY 2: NOVEMBER 25, 2026
7:25-7:55
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
7:55-8:00
CHAIR’S REMARKS
Adrienne Baker, Director, Energy and Mines
THE NEW POLITICS OF CRITICAL MINERALS
8:00-9:20
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Critical minerals have become central to Canada's economic security, industrial competitiveness, and geopolitical strategy. This session explores how changing public opinion, evolving federal and provincial priorities, and a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape are accelerating policy, investment, permitting reform, and project development—and what these changes mean for Ontario's mining sector, investors, First Nations, and supply chain partners.
8:00-8:15
THE NEW CANADA-U.S. ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP: WHERE DO CRITICAL MINERALS FIT?
8:15-8:30
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Why governments are accelerating support for critical minerals development
The public opinion, economic, and geopolitical forces reshaping Canada's critical minerals agenda
What these shifts mean for project development, investment, and industrial growth
Darrell Bricker, Global CEO, Ipsos Public Affairs
8:30-9:15
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Leading political strategists from across the political spectrum examine how changing public priorities are influencing government decision-making—and what mining companies, investors, Indigenous communities, and industry should expect as critical minerals become an increasingly important political and economic priority.
What has changed politically that is allowing governments to move more aggressively on critical minerals, major projects, and industrial development?
Which political, economic, and regional constituencies are driving support for faster critical minerals development, and how is that influencing government decision-making?
Has the political balance shifted away from environmental opposition and toward economic development and national security—or is that perception overstated?
How aligned are provincial and federal leaders on critical minerals, infrastructure, and resource development? Would a change in government materially alter the policy direction, or is there now broad consensus?
How will the relationship between the federal and Ontario governments shape critical minerals development? Where are the two levels of government aligned, where do tensions remain, and what could that mean for permitting, infrastructure investment, and project delivery?
What political risks or public policy challenges could slow the pace of critical minerals development?
Chair: Chris Benedetti, Managing Partner & CEO, Sussex Strategy Group
Melanie Paradis, President, Texture Communications
David Herle, Partner, Rubicon Strategy
Brad Lavigne, President & Partner, Counsel Public Affairs
9:15-10:00
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As geopolitical tensions, industrial policy shifts, and supply chain disruptions reshape global manufacturing, major buyers across the automotive, battery, and defence sectors are reassessing how and where they secure critical raw materials and processed inputs. This discussion brings together downstream customers to examine what they are looking for from critical minerals suppliers, how sourcing requirements are evolving, and what Ontario's mining sector needs to understand to compete in increasingly strategic global markets.
What are the biggest factors shaping your critical minerals sourcing decisions today, and how have those priorities changed?
How important is domestic and allied-country processing capacity when making long-term sourcing decisions?
What would make Ontario and Canada more competitive as long-term suppliers to automotive, battery, and defence supply chains?
How early are end users willing to engage with mining projects, and what partnership or commercial models are proving most effective?
Tobias Abt, Manager- Raw Material Procurement and Strategic Market Development, Mercedes-Benz
Joel Karlsberg, Chief Procurement Officer, PowerCo Canada
Roman Shimonov, CEO, Roshel - Smart Armored Vehicles
Rajshekar DasGupta, CEO, Electrovaya
10:00-10:30
NETWORKING BREAK
10:30–10:45
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Where Canada is best positioned across six strategic critical minerals
The biggest opportunities to build higher-value processing and supply chains
Turning international partnerships into investment, trade and project development
Rachel Doran, Executive Director, Clean Energy Canada
10:45-11:00
UNLOCKING INDIGENOUS OWNERSHIP IN MAJOR PROJECTS: THE CANADA INDIGENOUS LOAN GUARANTEE
Kristan Straub, CEO, Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation
ONTARIO’S NEXT GENERATION OF CRITICAL MINERALS PROJECTS
11:00-12:00
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As governments look to accelerate critical minerals development, attention is increasingly turning toward Ontario’s next pipeline of nickel, lithium, copper, graphite, and battery metals projects moving through the exploration and advancement stages.
11:00-11:15
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What it takes to move an Ontario critical minerals project from exploration to development amid growing demand for secure domestic supply chains
The practical realities around financing, infrastructure, permitting, Indigenous partnerships, and downstream market positioning
What governments, investors, and industry still needs to address to accelerate Ontario’s next generation of producing critical minerals mines
John Paterson, Interim CEO and Director, EV Nickel
Paul Davis, Vice President of Exploration, EV Nickel
11:15-12:00
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This panel brings together leaders from Ontario’s emerging critical minerals companies to discuss what is required to move projects from discovery toward development — including financing, infrastructure, permitting, Indigenous partnerships, processing pathways, and long-term market positioning.
What are the biggest challenges junior and emerging critical minerals companies are facing in advancing projects from exploration toward development and construction?
How are Ontario’s new exploration incentives and strategic funding programs helping early-stage critical minerals projects advance and what additional support is still needed?
How important are infrastructure access, power availability, and downstream processing strategies in determining whether early-stage projects become financeable mines?
As governments and industry focus more heavily on supply chain security and domestic processing, how are exploration companies adapting their strategies and positioning projects?
How are relationships and partnerships with First Nations evolving at the exploration and early development stage, and what approaches are proving most effective in building long-term project alignment?
What conditions still need to be in place for Ontario to produce its next generation of producing critical minerals mines?
Chair: Steve Virtue, President and CEO, Ontario Prospectors Association
Scott McLean, President and CEO, Transition Metals
Koby Kushner, CEO, Libra Energy Materials
Kerem Usenmez, President & CEO, Volta Metals
Ryan McEachern, Managing Director, Mining Suppliers Trade Association Canada (MSTA CANADA)
12:00-1:00
NETWORKING LUNCH
FROM PERMITTING REFORM TO PROJECT DELIVERY
1:00-2:30
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As Ontario moves deeper into the execution phase of critical minerals development, attention is shifting from permitting reform announcements toward implementation and project outcomes. This session examines how Ontario's One Project, One Process framework, the federal Major Projects Office, proposed reforms to the Impact Assessment Act, and new approaches to project coordination are reshaping mining, infrastructure, processing, and Indigenous partnership development—and what these changes mean in practice for project timelines, investment certainty, and long-term development.
1:00-1:30
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Following a year of significant federal and provincial permitting reforms, what do these changes mean in practice for critical minerals projects? This session provides an update on how Ontario's One Project, One Process framework, the federal Major Projects Office, proposed Impact Assessment Act reforms, and new approaches to project coordination are being implemented—and what mining companies, investors, and First Nations should expect as governments work to accelerate strategic project development.
How are Ontario's One Project, One Process framework and broader federal-provincial coordination working in practice to accelerate critical minerals projects?
What do the proposed reforms to the Impact Assessment Act mean for project approvals, Indigenous consultation, and regulatory coordination?
How does the Major Projects Office determine which projects qualify for coordinated federal support—and what pathways exist for projects that fall outside the MPO process?
How are governments approaching project prioritization, timelines, and regulatory coordination across mining, infrastructure, and processing projects?
What should mining companies, investors, and First Nations expect next as Canada's permitting framework continues to evolve?
Terence Hubbard, President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Susanna Laaksonen-Craig, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Government of Ontario
1:30-1:45
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Key insights Ontario’s first critical minerals projects to receive coordinated support through the Major Projects Office and accelerated permitting pathways
Strategic approaches to permitting, infrastructure coordination, regional development planning, and First Nations partnership engagement as the Crawford Project advances
What are the challenges of coordinating large-scale critical minerals projects that combine mining, processing, infrastructure, carbon management, and regional development objectives
Mark Selby, CEO & Director, Canada Nickel Company
1:45-2:30
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As governments introduce new permitting reforms and accelerate project coordination, First Nations are evaluating how these changes align with community priorities, consultation expectations, long-term economic participation, and regional development planning. This panel explores how communities are experiencing Ontario's evolving permitting framework—and what conditions are necessary for accelerated project development to succeed in practice.
As governments accelerate strategic critical minerals development, how important is early community alignment in determining whether projects ultimately succeed?
How are First Nations experiencing Ontario's One Project, One Process framework and broader federal-provincial coordination efforts?
How might proposed changes to federal consultation processes affect relationships between governments, proponents, and First Nations—and what would successful implementation look like?
Are permitting discussions adequately addressing long-term priorities around infrastructure, energy, processing, procurement, and regional economic development
What concerns remain around timelines, consultation capacity, cumulative impacts, and long-term planning?
How can governments and industry better align accelerated development with meaningful Indigenous partnership, community participation, and long-term economic benefits?
What lessons from current projects should shape the next phase of permitting reform in Ontario?
Jason Batise, Executive Director, Wabun Tribal Council
Bobby Narcisse, Deputy Grand Chief, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSMISSION: POWERING PROJECT DELIVERY
2:30-3:50
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Ontario’s critical minerals ambitions depend on the electricity, transportation and regional infrastructure needed to connect mines with processing facilities, communities and markets. This session examines the infrastructure required to unlock Northern Ontario, strengthen domestic and allied supply chains, and create new opportunities for First Nations ownership and long-term regional development.
2:30-2:45
POWERING ONTARIO’S CRITICAL MINERALS ECONOMY
2:45-3:00
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Investing in the energy infrastructure needed to support new mining development
Building long-term partnerships to enable regional growth across Northern Ontario
David Donovan, Vice President, Corporate Business Development & Strategy, OPG
3:00-3:50
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This panel brings together investors, mining companies, First Nations and infrastructure leaders to examine who will finance, own and deliver the shared roads, transmission, transportation and regional infrastructure required to unlock multiple projects—and how partners can align commercial timelines, community priorities and long-term regional development.
Which infrastructure investments would unlock the greatest number of Ontario critical minerals projects?
Who should take the early-stage risk before mines and processing facilities reach final investment decisions?
How can First Nations move from consultation to ownership and leadership in regional infrastructure?
What commercial and ownership models can attract institutional and private capital?
How can partners align timelines and move major infrastructure from planning to construction?
What are the key decisions Ontario must make now to accelerate project development?
Anca Drexler, Chief Investment Officer, Building Ontario Fund
Shane Tabobondung, Chief, Wasauksing
3:50-4:30