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Ottawa approves northern Ontario nickel mine

  • The Canadian Press staff

  • Canadian Press

  • July 31, 2026

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, June 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA -- The federal government says it has approved the Crawford Nickel Mine project in northern Ontario.

Announcing the approval today in a press release, Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin said "the potential effects within federal jurisdiction are justified when taking into account the benefits this project will provide."

The government says the project could create $5 billion in investment and 4,000 new jobs.

Ottawa referred the mine to the major projects office in November.

Dabrusin's approval does come with conditions, including a requirement that fish be relocated and that Indigenous Peoples be consulted on the plan.

The proposal is for an open-pit, nickel-cobalt mine, 42 kilometres north of Timmins, Ont.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2026.