Grant
Provincial
Between Intakes
Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP)
Ontario Ministry of Mines
Maximum Funding
Up to $200,000
Between intakes — the 2026-27 intake period has closed. Next intake timing TB...
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) provides Up to $200,000 per project for junior mining companies (50% of eligible costs); up to $50,000 per project for prospectors; +$15,000 Indigenous participation bonus (add-on). Grants up to $215,000 per company or up to $50,000 per individual prospector for mineral exploration in Ontario, with an additional $15,000 Indigenous participation bonus. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Between intakes — the 2026-27 intake period has closed. Next intake timing TBD — check ontario.ca/page/ontario-junior-exploration-program..
Approval odds: ~30–50% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Grants up to $215,000 per company or up to $50,000 per individual prospector for mineral exploration in Ontario, with an additional $15,000 Indigenous participation bonus. Supports early-stage exploration including drilling, geophysical surveys, and geochemical sampling on valid mining tenure.
Eligibility Requirements
- Junior mining companies or individual prospectors
- Must hold valid mining tenure (claims or leases) in Ontario
- Exploration activities must take place in Ontario
- Companies must be Canadian-incorporated or individual Canadian residents
- Project must involve eligible exploration activities (drilling, geophysics, geochemistry)
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $200,000 per project for junior mining companies (50% of eligible costs); up to $50,000 per project for prospectors; +$15,000 Indigenous participation bonus (add-on)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Between intakes — the 2026-27 intake period has closed. Next intake timing TBD — check ontario.ca/page/ontario-junior-exploration-program.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~30–50%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipApply early in the fiscal year — funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and popular years see the $10M exhausted before year-end.
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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The pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win OJEP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 9-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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9 steps
6 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm valid mining tenure (claim or lease) registered in Ontario's Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS)
Required Documents 6
✓ OJEP application form
✓ Valid mining claim or lease documentation
Eligible Expenses 7
Ineligible Expenses 6
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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4 partners
Compatible Programs
Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC)
Critical Minerals Exploration Tax Credit (CMETC)
Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share Tax Credit
Ontario Junior Exploration Program Investments
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How OJEP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Junior Exploration Program (O... | Up to $200,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Between intakes — the... |
| Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share Ta... | 5% | Easy | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing — claimed... |
| Digital Technology Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Open — Call for... |
| PrairiesCan (Prairies Economic Develo... | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Mining Innovation Commercialization A... | Up to $500,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | MICA operator challenges... |
Related Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about OJEP
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Can sole proprietors apply as prospectors?
Yes, individual Canadian residents with valid Ontario mining claims can apply for up to $50,000. Must submit proof of claim ownership and residency. No incorporation required.
What's the realistic grant size for my project?
Most junior mining companies get $50,000-$150,000. Prospectors typically receive $15,000-$40,000. The $215k max is rare — most applications fall below $100k.
When do decisions get made?
Decisions made within 30 days of application submission. Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis — apply early in the fiscal year to avoid exhaustion.
Do I need matching funds?
Yes, 50% matching required. For example, a $50k grant requires $50k in company cash or in-kind contributions. Must be documented in budget.
Can I stack with other programs?
Yes — stack with federal METC (15%) or CMETC (30%) for critical minerals. Also stack with Ontario's flow-through share tax credit for additional provincial incentives.
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Full Playbook: OJEP
9 steps · 6 docs · reviewer insights