ONAPING, ON, Aug. 27, 2026 /CNW/ —  Canada has what the world wants and is entering a new era of sovereign critical minerals production. Working with provinces and territories, industry, and Indigenous partners, we are acting with urgency to unlock the full potential of our abundant mineral deposits by unlocking major projects that will create a prosperous, secure, and sustainable future for all Canadians. In a more competitive and uncertain world, Canada is ready to lead as a stable and reliable supplier of the mineral resources that power clean energy, advanced manufacturing and defence.

Today, the Government of Canada welcomed a major milestone at Glencore Canada Corporation’s Craig Mine in Ontario with the completion of the Onaping Depth Project shaft, providing first access to nickel ore and marking an important step toward first production from the Onaping Depth Zone later this year. Located within Craig Mine as part of Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (Sudbury INO), the Onaping Depth Project is the first new mine to be developed in the Sudbury Basin in more than a decade, and will secure nickel production in the Sudbury Basin. The project extends our ability to produce nickel, a key input for stainless steel and batteries, beyond 2040.

Glencore’s Sudbury INO, which includes mine, mill and smelter operations, has been part of Ontario’s economic fabric for nearly 100 years. It currently employs more than 1,000 people and has contributed nearly $400 million in direct GDP to Ontario. Representing nearly $2 billion in private sector investments since construction began in 2019, the Onaping Depth Project has generated roughly 7,000 jobs and created significant opportunities for skilled tradespeople, contractors, suppliers and mining professionals across Northern Ontario.

To support this significant engine of Northern Ontario’s economy and our national critical minerals ambitions, the federal government has provided Glencore up to $11 million through the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Decarbonization Incentive Program. This will allow Onaping Depth to operate one of the most advanced battery-electric underground mining fleets in the world and eliminate diesel emissions from production. A more modern, efficient, and low-carbon mine supports Canada’s ambitions to build our way to net-zero by 2050, and demonstrates how smart climate action supports a more productive and competitive economy.

This milestone tells a clear story: working with industry, we are building a mining sector that strengthens our economy, supports our allies, safeguards our security and delivers for the planet. Canada is moving faster, building smarter and thinking bigger — turning resource strength into national strength and securing our rightful place as an energy and mining superpower.

Quotes

“Canada’s resources and workers are our strengths in an uncertain world – and attracting the investments that allow us to turn those strengths into long-term prosperity, security and climate action is how we are building Canada Strong. I congratulate Glencore, Ontario, and every worker, contractor, and company along the supply chain who have helped us reach today’s milestone. We are giving ourselves more – more jobs, opportunities, and ambition – than anyone can take away.”
The Honourable Tim Hodgson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“Climate action and economic strength go hand in hand. By supporting the development and adoption of cleaner industrial technologies, our federal government is giving Canadian businesses the tools they need to reduce emissions, compete globally, and lead in the industries of tomorrow.”
The Honourable Julie Dabrusin
Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

“Sudbury has helped build Canada for generations, and our government is making sure it remains at the heart of Canada’s economic future. By supporting projects like Onaping Depth, we are creating good jobs here at home, strengthening our domestic supply chains and putting Canadian resources and Canadian workers at the centre of a stronger, more independent economy. At a time when Canada must be more resilient and more in control of its economic future, Sudbury is once again leading the way.”
Viviane Lapointe
Member of Parliament for Sudbury

“The Onaping Depth Project at Craig Mine reflects Glencore Canada’s commitment to advanced automation, remote operations, battery-electric mining technology, and modern safety systems. Most importantly, this project is the result of millions of hours put in by thousands of employees and contractors, safely, that establishes a blueprint for the next generation of sustainable and technologically advanced mining operations here in Ontario and across Canada.”
Peter Xavier
Chief Operating Officer, Glencore Canada Metals

Quick facts

Critical minerals are essential inputs for everyday products like medical devices; defence technologies; and the energy transition, as a key input in technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels.The minerals sector offers well-paid, high-quality jobs for Canadians across the country, including many in northern and remote locations. In 2024, the minerals and metals sector directly employed 438,000 individuals and indirectly employed an additional 286,000, for a total of 724,000 individuals. At $146,213, the average annual total compensation per job in the mining industry is almost twice the all-industry average of $78,098.The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy aims to advance the development of critical minerals and related value chains. Canada’s current approach to critical minerals focuses on promoting domestic production and processing of critical minerals in strategic areas, protecting Canada’s sovereignty and economic resilience by safeguarding critical minerals value chains, and partnering with Indigenous groups, provinces and territories, domestic stakeholders and international allies on critical minerals development.The Decarbonization Incentive Program (DIP) returns funds collected through the federal industrial carbon pricing system in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick to invest in projects that help Canadian industries adopt cleaner technologies and remain competitive.Today’s event highlighted two major milestones, namely shaft completion and accessing the ore body at the Onaping Depth Project at Craig Mine.The all-electric fleet ranges from the mining equipment that will drill and prepare the mining face and extract ore, to service and support vehicles that move people, supplies and equipment.

Associated links

Climate Competitiveness StrategyIndustrial carbon pricing in Canada 

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada