Ontario premier celebrates new nickel mining project in Sudbury

Ontario premier celebrates new nickel mining project in Sudbury

Glencore Canada's Craig Mine launched the Onaping Depth Project on Thursday

Earlier today Premier Doug Ford joined his provincial and municipal counterparts in Ontario's nickel belt to celebrate two major steps in the "Onaping Depth Project" at Craig Mine in Sudbury, Ont.

The mine, which was shut down in 2009, hit ore for the first time and extended the mine shaft. The project has been in development for several years, and is slated to open for business in early 2027.

Putting in a new shaft to get to a depth of 2.6 kilometres is one of the main ways that Glencore Canada says it is revamping the decades-old mine, whose infrastructure dates back to the 1990s.

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Glencore said its use of advanced technology like battery-electric underground mining fleets unlock "world-class mineral wealth" that can drill and extract faster while eliminating diesel emissions and other energy-intensive demands of underground mining.

The use of battery electric vehicles is "helping to support both Glencore's broader sustainability objectives and Canada's net zero ambitions," said the company in a statement.

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Premier Doug Ford said the project also helps advance another Canadian objective: becoming the "most resilient and self-reliant economy in the G7."

The Premier, whose comments towards U.S. President Donald Trump in the context of a deepening tariff war have sparked controversy, took to the podium to reiterate the province's "need to be direct."

He reiterated the need to support workers and businesses affected by tariffs. "We need to support them, but we also need to focus on our plan to protect Ontario for the long term, to unlock our full potential. We need to speed up approvals, get shovels in the ground on infrastructure and resource projects," Ford said.

"This new extension is the result of a nearly 2-billion-dollar investment that will provide a significant new source of high-grade nickel ore beyond 2040," said Glencore Vice-President of Integrated Nickel Operations Zachary Mayer in an interview with CBC News.

Mayer said he expects this new mining project to help Ontario deliver on its plan to build mines faster, and strengthening the province's position, "as a secure and reliable global supplier of critical minerals."

Premier Ford said he plans to bolster employment in the province by approving more projects like Onaping Depth.

"We'll have those workers backs no matter what. We will not spare a penny. We're pushing the federal government to cut the red tape and cost that make our business less competitive," Ford said.

"[A]t a time when our country is under economic attack, we can't let ideology stand in the way of protecting workers."

Mayer said the mining in northern Ontario attractive for qualified workers, of which there is a shortage.

"Over the last several years during project construction, we've had over 7000 workers and contractors touch this mine," he said. He said he anticipates another 400 jobs will become available when the mine opens in 2027, not including "indirect jobs" from suppliers, contractors, consultants and others employed as a result of the operation.

The province said the Onaping Depth operation will pull a near 280,000 tonnes of nickel and 145,000 tonnes of copper by the end of its life in addition to other critical minerals and precious metals.

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas joined fellow NDP-MPP Sudbury Jamie West in granting an honorary plaque to the mine for its achievements. The parliamentarians said they hope the mine will bolster the local economy and create perennial high-paying jobs for workers.

Ontario's minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce also remarked on the mine's capacity to create jobs for people who will "be able to work where they grew up [in Sudbury]."

Olivia Pizzuco-Ennis grew up in Montreal and is a graduating student from the Université du Québec à Montréal's journalism program. Having worked in community radio, she is passionate about telling stories that help people understand their day. She is currently working for CBC Sudbury. You can reach her at olivia.pizzuco-ennis@cbc.ca.