Ontario fast-tracks major gold mine despite federal review and Indigenous concerns – Canada’s National Observer

Feb 19, 2026

The Ford government is fast-tracking approvals for one of Canada’s largest proposed gold mines in northwestern Ontario, despite pushback from First Nations over environmental and health concerns that have triggered a full federal impact assessment.

The project — Kinross Gold’s Great Bear mine near Red Lake town — is the first gold mine to move through Ontario’s new “One Project, One Process” framework.

The Ford government says the system is designed to shorten permitting timelines from as long as 15 years to just a few years.

Read More: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/19/news/ontario-gold-mine-fast-track-ford