Ontario Fast-Tracks One of Canada’s Premier Gold Mines Under ‘One Project, One Process’

February 17, 2026

At a time of global economic uncertainty and fierce competition for investment, Ontario is designating Kinross Gold’s Great Bear Project under the ‘One Project, One Process’ framework to protect jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains and secure major mining investment in the province.

The Great Bear Project represents a more than $5 billion capital investment and will support more than 1,000 jobs, plus thousands of additional construction and indirect jobs during the 2027–2029 build-out phase.

The project will strengthen made-in-Ontario supply chains, unlock new economic opportunities in the north and reinforce Ontario’s position as a safe, reliable and responsible place to invest in large-scale resource development.

Located near Red Lake, this high-grade combined open-pit and underground mine has an initial 12-year life and is expected to produce over 500,000 ounces of gold annually at peak production.

Ontario’s outdated and fragmented permitting system once caused delays of up to 15 years to open a mine — the ‘One Project, One Process’ framework coordinates approvals, streamlines decision-making and will reduce government review time by 50 per cent.

This designation complements other work underway in the Red Lake region, including consultation on the proposed Red Lake Transmission Line from Dryden to Red Lake to power new mines and growing communities.

Under the leadership of Premier Ford, Ontario is fast-tracking major mining projects to create jobs, unlock new economic opportunities in the north and strengthen made-in-Ontario supply chains.