Ottawa/Timmins – August 1, 2026 – The Government of Canada has issued a positive decision statement for the Crawford Nickel Project north of Timmins, marking the first mining project approved under the amended Impact Assessment Act since 2019.
Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin determined that the project’s potential effects within federal jurisdiction are justified given its expected economic benefits. The open-pit nickel-cobalt mine is projected to support thousands of direct and indirect jobs over a 41-year lifespan and strengthen Canada’s critical minerals supply chain.
Canada Nickel Company has established significant Indigenous partnerships, including a $20 million equity investment by Taykwa Tagamou Nation. The project assessment process included extensive participation from Indigenous communities in northern Ontario and incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge.
The approval positions Crawford as a potential anchor for Canada’s critical minerals strategy. Construction is targeted for 2027, with production possibly beginning in 2029. For communities across Northern and Central Ontario, the decision signals long-term economic opportunity in the mining sector.
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