TIMMINS, Ont. — The Ontario government says it is accelerating the approval process for Canada Nickel Company’s Crawford Nickel Project near Timmins, positioning the development as a cornerstone of a made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain and a major economic driver for Northern Ontario.
The province announced Tuesday that Crawford is the second project to advance under its recently launched “One Project, One Process” (1P1P) framework, a permitting model introduced in October to streamline approvals and coordinate government oversight. The government estimates the Crawford development could attract $5 billion in investment and support thousands of jobs across construction, operations and related supply chains.
“As President Trump takes aim at our economy, Ontario is moving at lightning speed to open this 100 per cent Canadian owned mine to create 4,000 jobs for Canadian workers,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “In 2026, our government is going full tilt to unlock one of the world’s largest nickel deposits that will supercharge our economy and help end China’s critical mineral dominance. ‘Made-in-Canada’ from start to finish, as we build a domestic supply chain that includes the Western world’s largest nickel mine, a new nickel processing plant and downstream alloy production facility.”
Located about 42 kilometres north of Timmins, the Crawford project sits within the Timmins Nickel District and is described by the province as one of the world’s largest nickel resources. Ontario said the project’s mineral reserve estimate totals 1,715 million tonnes and is expected to produce high-quality nickel for electric vehicle battery supply chains and “green steel” markets.
Beyond nickel, the province said Crawford could play a role in strengthening domestic access to other critical minerals, including cobalt and what it described as North America’s only domestic source of chromium.
The government said the project could create up to 2,000 jobs during construction. Once in operation, it is expected to support up to 1,300 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs over a projected 41-year mine life. Ontario also said the development could add more than $70 billion to Canada’s GDP and $67 billion to Ontario’s GDP, alongside 185,000 person-years of employment.
If built as proposed, the project would include a large open pit mine with two access zones, two ore processing plants and additional mining and processing infrastructure. Ontario’s plan also includes realigning roughly 25 kilometres of Highway 655, relocating an existing 500-kilovolt transmission line, and constructing two new electricity substations with an estimated demand and operating load of 230 kilovolts and 34.5 kilovolts.
Canada Nickel CEO Mark Selby said the provincial designation reflects the project’s scale and strategic importance, and highlighted the government’s intention to reduce permitting timelines.
“Ontario’s ‘One Project, One Process’ framework reflects a clear commitment to getting important projects done the right way – that means clear accountability, strong coordination across government, and a high standard of environmental and Indigenous engagement,” said Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel Company. “As the only mining project in Canada to date to secure this type of endorsement from both federal and provincial governments, the province recognizes the scale, strategic importance and advanced stage of the Crawford Nickel Project and the strong collaboration with the province. Crawford is a key part of Ontario’s emerging Critical Minerals Corridor in Northeastern Ontario, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Province to unlock the financing and permitting necessary to break ground and begin construction on the project by the end of this year – responsibly advancing a project that supports critical minerals development, job creation, and long-term economic growth across the region and the province.”
Ontario said its previous permitting system could delay mine development by up to 15 years, discouraging investment and slowing access to strategic minerals. Under 1P1P, the Ministry of Energy and Mines will serve as a single point of contact to coordinate provincial approvals and Indigenous consultation, with a goal of cutting government review time by 50 per cent.
The province emphasized that the Crown’s duty to consult Indigenous communities remains in place under the new approach, describing 1P1P as more transparent and timely than the previous process. Ontario said the model is intended to support Indigenous participation in mining through employment, training, community benefits and equity partnerships.
Local leaders welcomed the announcement, pointing to long-term economic impacts for Timmins and the region’s role in the national critical minerals push.
“Fast-tracking the Crawford Nickel Project through the One Project, One Process framework sends a strong message that Northern Ontario is open for business,” said George Pirie, MPP for Timmins. “With decades of production ahead, this project will support local businesses and suppliers, create economic certainty and strengthen Timmins’ role as a global hub for critical minerals.”
Mayor Michelle Boileau said the project could help diversify Timmins’ mining economy while supporting planning for future growth.
“The Crawford Nickel Project is a significant critical minerals initiative for Timmins and Northern Ontario. The project will diversify Timmins’ mining sector, create skilled employment opportunities, and enable the City to better prepare for long-term growth through strategic infrastructure investment. Congratulations to Canada Nickel on their continued success in advancing their flagship project.”
- Michelle Boileau
Mayor of Timmins
Business groups also framed the project as a defining opportunity for the community.
“The Crawford Nickel announcement represents a significant economic opportunity and reinforces Timmins’ role as a hub for critical minerals, which are increasingly important to Canada’s economic future. This is the kind of nation-building project that defines our future, and the Timmins business community is proud to be at the heart of it.”
- Mélanie Dufresne
2025-2026 President, Timmins Chamber of Commerce
Northern College President and CEO Mitch Dumas said the project could strengthen regional employment prospects and demand for training.
“The work being done to expedite the development and construction of mining operations in Ontario is welcome news for Colleges like Northern, where new job opportunities and economic stability are a sincere draw for existing and would-be professionals, seeking to acquire and develop the skills they need to enter the mining industry. Canada Nickel, its operations and employment capabilities will transform this community and region, providing economic stability for years to come and we are encouraged by the commitment from this government to support the success of mining operations like this and in turn, northern Ontario’s mining and mining supply industry.”
- Mitch Dumas
President & CEO of Northern College
Ontario said the Crawford project is expected to produce high-quality, low-carbon nickel with projected emissions 90 per cent below the global average, aligning with demand for lower-emission materials in battery and steel markets.
