While investor interest in Ontario’s critical minerals is growing, financing challenges remain due to long timelines, policy uncertainty, and market instability. This panel explores actionable solutions for attracting capital, de-risking projects, and ensuring that government funding plays a catalytic role in building Ontario’s critical minerals market.

• What funding gaps exist at exploration, development, and processing stages — and how can they be addressed?
• How can permitting clarity and regulatory coordination (e.g., “one project, one process”) reduce investor risk?
• What role are Ontario, NRCan, CIB, and CMIF playing in validating projects and unlocking private capital?
• Are flow-through shares, tax credits, and loan guarantees sufficient to support early-stage miners?
• What do big banks need to play an active role in financing early stage critical minerals projects - i.e. what type of offtake agreements can unlock debt and attract institutional investment?
• How does the lack of local midstream infrastructure impact project bankability and long-term investor interest?
• What reforms or innovations are needed to make Ontario more globally competitive?