Timmins will benefit from the provincial budget, says MPP George Pirie.
The 2025 provincial budget was announced on May 15, and Pirie, who is also the minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, said it’s a win for the region.
“When I was minister of mines, everything I asked for was approved in the budget, and of course, that is Minister (Stephen) Lecce’s responsibility now,” he said. “It’s all being driven forward.”
He said supporting mining and partnership with First Nations through development funding is a great step for the North. He pointed to the One Project, One Process permitting model to streamline projects. That model is part of the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025, which was introduced to the legislature in April.
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The Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP), which provides support for exploration by junior mining organizations, will also get an additional $10 million in the 2025 budget. There is also an additional $5 million for the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) that stimulates investment in mining supply chains.
“Gold is not going to go away; critical minerals are not going to go away. We’re the pivot point,” he said.
Pirie also spoke about working with First Nations to develop a port in James Bay for easier shipping from northern markets.
“If we’re going to get the finished product out, to the cheapest and fastest route to Asia and Europe, it’s going to be a port in James Bay,” he said.
He added that support for multiple industries, including agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, is important when discussing international trade.
“There is a silver lining with the tariffs, which means we reduce our dependency on the U.S.,” he said. “That means we develop, manufacture, and export.”
He said he’s pleased with what the budget can do for the region overall.
“It’s all coming together and I love hearing that,” he said.
