Ontario Critical Minerals Processing Fund (CMPF)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A dedicated $500-million Ontario provincial fund to attract and support investment in critical-minerals processing, refining, and recovery operations in Ontario. Launched December 2025 through Invest Ontario, the fund provides negotiated direct financial support to businesses building, expanding, or modernizing facilities that process or refine critical minerals — including those used in EV batteries, defence, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing supply chains. This is a project-finance and incentive program, not a traditional grant application — businesses engage Invest Ontario directly to structure a tailored support package.
Eligibility Requirements
- Businesses proposing to build, expand, or modernize critical-minerals processing, refining, or recovery operations in Ontario
- Project must involve critical minerals relevant to strategic supply chains (EV batteries, defence, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors)
- Project must create or retain significant Ontario jobs
- Must demonstrate economic benefit to Ontario — not pure financial engineering
- Foreign-owned companies are eligible if the project is Ontario-based and creates Ontario jobs
- Sector exclusions and minimum project thresholds apply — confirmed by engaging Invest Ontario directly
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $500M total fund; per-project amounts negotiated with Invest Ontario based on capital investment size, job creation, and strategic importance
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Provincial
- Deadline
- Ongoing — applications by engagement with Invest Ontario; fund open until capital is allocated
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win CMPF — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for CMPF? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThis fund targets large strategic investments — it is not designed for small processing operations or early-stage projects without significant capital and job-creation commitments. Engage Invest Ontario early through their 'Start a Conversation' portal at investontario.ca — they act as a deal-structuring partner, not just a grants office, and will help determine the most appropriate support mechanism (direct financial support, loan guarantee, equity, or a combination). Having an anchor customer (automaker, tier-1 aerospace supplier, defence prime) dramatically strengthens the case. The CMPF complements the federal Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) — combining provincial CMPF with federal support is the expected model for major projects.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- Project does not involve critical minerals processing, refining, or recovery (e.g. primary mining extraction only)
- Project is outside Ontario
- Insufficient scale of capital investment or job creation relative to fund priorities
Success Profile
Large Ontario-based or foreign-owned businesses with committed capital investment plans for processing or refining operations involving battery-grade minerals (lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese), rare earth elements, or other critical minerals essential to EV, defence, aerospace, or semiconductor supply chains. Businesses with anchor customer agreements (automakers, defence primes), environmental approvals in progress, and significant Ontario job-creation plans are the target profile.
Evaluation Criteria
Invest Ontario evaluates projects on: strategic importance of the critical mineral to Ontario's supply chain priorities (EV battery materials, defence/aerospace minerals), scale of capital investment and Ontario job creation, financial viability and committed equity from the applicant, progress on environmental approvals and permits, and the existence of anchor customer relationships. Projects are evaluated qualitatively by Invest Ontario's investment team — not scored against a published rubric.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 8
Eligible Expenses 5
- Construction and acquisition of critical minerals processing or refining facilities in Ontario
- Machinery and equipment for processing, refining, or recovery of critical minerals
- Engineering and design costs for processing facility development
- Environmental assessment and permitting costs related to the processing project
- Working capital for ramp-up of qualifying processing operations
Ineligible Expenses 4
- Primary mineral extraction (mining) without a processing component
- Retail, commercial, or residential real estate development
- Projects outside Ontario
- Financial engineering or debt refinancing unrelated to new processing capacity
Intake Periods
Rolling — no intake windows. Businesses engage Invest Ontario at any time.
Deadline Notes
Fund launched December 12, 2025 with no published sunset date or application deadline. Invest Ontario evaluates projects on a rolling basis as capital requests come in. Businesses should engage early — large strategic projects may take 6-18 months from initial engagement to funding agreement. The fund is active as long as the $500M pool has remaining capacity.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Companies without a credible Ontario-based processing or refining project
- Primary mining companies without a processing or refining component
- Non-profit organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
High RiskInvest Ontario funding agreements typically include clawback provisions if the company fails to meet Ontario employment commitments, closes or relocates the funded facility, or fails to achieve agreed project milestones. Specific clawback conditions are negotiated per deal — review the funding agreement carefully before signing.
How CMPF Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Critical Minerals Processing ... | Up to $500M | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — applications... |
| Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Stream 2 March 2026... |
| Clean Technology Manufacturing Invest... | Up to 30% refundable tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing (January 1, 2024... |
| Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment... | up to $20,000,000 | Easy | Tax Credit Offset | Program sunsets December... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
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