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
9:00-9:10
KEYNOTE: PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS FOR ONTARIO’S CRITICAL MINERALS STRATEGY
Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, Government of Ontario
EXECUTING ONTARIO'S CRITICAL MINERALS ADVANTAGE
9:10-9:25
KEYNOTE: BUILDING THE NEXT PHASE OF ONTARIO’S CRITICAL MINERALS VALUE CHAIN
Marc Bédard, Chief Operating Officer, Custom Metallurgical Assets, Glencore Canada
9:25-10:10
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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, 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?
Chair: Philipe Pourreaux, Partner, Value Creation, PwC Canada
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
Session Leader:
10:10-10:40
NETWORKING BREAK
NEW MODELS OF CO-DEVELOPMENT FOR CRITICAL MINERALS
10:40-10:55
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
10:55-11:40
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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?
Chair: Dennis Mahony, Partner, Torys LLP
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
Session Leader:
THE MIDSTREAM CHALLENGE
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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.
11:40-12:00
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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
Allan Odawa, Chief, Red Rock Indian Band
12:00–12:15
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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
12:15-1:00
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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.
Where can Canada build a globally competitive advantage in critical minerals processing?
What are the biggest barriers to developing commercially viable processing capacity—financing, feedstock, energy, infrastructure, or permitting?
How can Canada leverage existing industrial infrastructure to accelerate processing and refining capacity?
How can First Nations take a leading role in developing and investing in Canada's midstream sector?
What partnerships with mining companies, downstream customers, First Nations,and investors are needed to make Canadian processing projects commercially viable?
How can Ontario and other provinces work together to build an integrated Canadian critical minerals value chain?
Chair: Marla Tremblay, Executive Director, MineConnect
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
1:00 -1:05
SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS DECISION-MAKING ON CRITICAL MINERALS
Peter McPherson, Managing Partner, Apeiron
1:05-2:00
NETWORKING LUNCH
Sponsored by
FINANCING AND POLICY UPDATES
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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.
2:00-2:15
CANADA’S NEXT PHASE OF CRITICAL MINERALS INVESTMENT
Isabella Chan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Lands and Minerals Sector, Natural Resources Canada
2:15-2:30
DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND CRITICAL MINERALS
Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
2:30-2:45
DE-RISKING CRITICAL MINERALS PROJECTS WITH EQUITY INVESTMENTS
Yannick Beaudoin, President & CEO, Canada Growth Fund Investment Management
2:45-3:05
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A candid conversation on how Generation Mining is assembling the financing for its Marathon project, the critical role of government-backed capital and international lenders, and the realities of financing critical minerals projects in Canada.
How has Marathon's financing come together, and what have been the critical pieces of the capital stack?
What role has government-backed financing played in attracting commercial lenders?
What have been the biggest challenges in getting Marathon to this stage?
How does Canada compare internationally for financing and developing new critical minerals projects?
Why are Canadian banks largely absent from mining project finance, and how are developers filling that gap?
Chair: David Rhodes, Managing Director, Endeavour Financial
Jamie Levy, President & CEO, Generation Mining
3:05-3:30
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As companies look to build more secure and resilient critical minerals supply chains, manufacturers are reaching further upstream while materials producers are engaging more directly with downstream customers. This conversation explores how companies are engaging across the value chain, what is driving these changing relationships, and what their experiences reveal about building more connected Canadian critical minerals supply chains.
How is Schneider Electric reaching further upstream into critical minerals and materials supply chains, and what is driving the company to engage earlier with producers and processors?
How is Rio Tinto Alcan engaging further downstream with manufacturers and industrial customers, and how are customer requirements influencing its approach to production, investment, and partnerships?
Where do the priorities of a materials producer and manufacturer align—and where are the biggest gaps in understanding, information, or expectations between different parts of the value chain?
How can earlier and more direct collaboration between materials producers and manufacturers strengthen supply security, support investment, and help build more integrated Canadian critical minerals value chains?
Chair: Adrienne Baker, Director, Energy and Mines
John Kwarta, Strategic Account Executive, Schneider Electric
3:30-4:00
NETWORKING BREAK
4:00-4:15
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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
4:15-5:00
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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?
What recent investments or opportunities are you focused on across critical minerals and infrastructure, and what are the key criteria driving your investment decisions?
Where along the critical minerals value chain are investors seeing the strongest opportunities today?
How are investors evaluating critical minerals opportunities differently from traditional mining investments?
How is growing government support influencing investment decisions and the balance between public and private capital?
Where does Ontario stand globally on permitting, infrastructure, processing capacity, and investment competitiveness, ambitions, and overall investment competitiveness?
Chair: Beth Borody, CEO, Maven Exploration
Stephen Saunders, Portfolio Manager & Economist, Orion Resource Partners
Sylvain Eckert, Partner, Infravia
Thomas Benjoe, CEO, Flowing River Capital
Laura Fernandez, Partner, Kinterra 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?
Chair: Priya Tandon, President, Ontario Mining Association
Zachary Mayer, Vice President, Sudbury Operations, Glencore
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
6:00-6:05
NETWORKING DRINKS WELCOME
6:05-7:15
NETWORKING DRINKS
Sponsored by:
DAY 2: NOVEMBER 25, 2026
7:15-7:55
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
7:55-8:00
CHAIR’S REMARKS
Adrienne Baker, Director, Energy and Mines
THE NEW POLITICS OF CRITICAL MINERALS
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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
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Key insights on the current Canada-US and global trade environment, the implications of the US midterm election results, and broader political and economic prospects ahead
Jonathan Fried, Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group
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
Sharan Kaur, Partner, Henley Strategies
Brad Lavigne, President & Partner, Counsel Public Affairs
9:15-9:35
CASE STUDY: ADVANCING THE KAPUKASING CRITICAL MINERALS PROCESSING HUB
Jeff Ivan, President & COO, KAP Minerals
9:35-10:20
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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?
Chair: Bryan Detchou, Senior Director, Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
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
10:20-10:50
NETWORKING BREAK
10:50–11:05
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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
11:05-11:20
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
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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.
11:20–11:35
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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
Paul Davis, Vice President of Exploration, EV Nickel
11:35–12:20
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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)
12:20-1:20
NETWORKING LUNCH
FROM PERMITTING REFORM TO PROJECT DELIVERY
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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.
1:20-1:35
CRITICAL MINERALS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: THE ROLE OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS OFFICE
1:35-2:05
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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, 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 would the proposed changes under Bill C-39, including the move toward a single coordinated federal approval within one year, impact the permitting process for Ontario’s critical minerals projects?
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?
Chair: Chris Powell, Senior Environmental Planner, Stantec
Terence Hubbard, President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Susanna Laaksonen-Craig, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Government of Ontario
Drew Vanderduim, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Ontario
2:05-2:20
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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
2:20-3:05
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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?
What are some of the concerns around proposed changes under Bill C-39 and what needs to be addressed to ensure Indigenous rights and meaningful participation are protected?
Are permitting discussions adequately addressing long-term priorities around infrastructure, energy, processing, procurement, and regional economic development?
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?
Chair: Michael Fox, Founder, Indigenous Community Engagement (ICE)
Jason Batise, Executive Director, Wabun Tribal Council
Bobby Narcisse, Deputy Grand Chief, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Delores Kakegamic, Chief, Sandy Lake First Nation
Kimberly Bressette, Chief, Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSMISSION: POWERING PROJECT DELIVERY
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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.
3:05-3:20
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How much additional power will Ontario’s new and expanding critical minerals mines and processing facilities require—and where?
What transmission and distribution infrastructure will be needed, and at what cost?
What are the biggest barriers to delivering power infrastructure in time to support mine development?
Travis Lusney, Director, Power Systems, Power Advisory
Greg Peniuk, Senior Manager, Planning and Analytics, Power Adivsory
3:20–3:35
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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
Keegan Tully, Vice President, Business and Services, Ontario Power Generation
3:35-4:20
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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?
Chair: David Anonychuk, Senior Vice President - Advisory and Growth, North America, DRA Global
Anca Drexler, Chief Investment Officer, Building Ontario Fund
JP Gladu, Principal, Mokwateh and Member, Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), Major Projects Office
Shane Tabobondung, Chief, Wasauksing
Duane Parnham, CEO, Critical One Energy
4:20-5:15