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
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.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- Project does not involve critical minerals processing, refining, or recovery (e.g. primary mining extraction only)
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Everything you need to win CMPF
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
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 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
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 8
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 4
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
High RiskHow CMPF Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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