Province beefs up Ontario Prospectors Association

In keeping with its promise to restructure the Ontario Prospectors Association (OPA), the provincial government is providing almost $1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC). The financing is the first instalment in a $4-million program that will stretch over three years.

The first instalment will be used, in part, to hire a full-time professional staff and an executive director.

“Our new association will give the grassroots exploration sector a unified voice and provide skills development that will help prospectors adapt,” says OPA Chairman Gary Clark.

The mineral exploration sector contributes about $120 million annually to Ontario’s economy.

Since October 1996, the NOHFC has contributed $234 million to 680 projects, and these, in turn, have generated an additional $567 million from partners. The projects have translated into 8,800 jobs.

The Ontario Prospectors Association is based in Thunder Bay.