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TORONTO \u2014 The province\u2019s\u00a0new regulation<\/a>\u00a0for criteria to designate Special Economic Zones is now in effect.<\/p>\n Informed by consultations with Indigenous communities and stakeholders across Ontario, the regulation \u201csupports the advancement of job-creating investments and projects that are of strategic and critical importance to Ontario\u2019s economic security,\u201d states a release.<\/p>\n First introduced in response to U.S. tariffs, the\u00a0Special Economic Zones Act, 2025<\/a>\u00a0(SEZA)\u00a0will allow designated projects within zones to launch and progress significantly faster.<\/p>\n Sectors such as critical minerals and mining fall into this category.<\/p>\n \u201cOntario\u2019s critical minerals advantage will play a key role in growing the province\u2019s strategic sectors, including defence, electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing, technology, aerospace and advanced manufacturing,\u201d the release reads.<\/p>\n \u201cPermitting and authorization processes for mining projects typically consist of overlapping approvals from multiple ministries and levels of government. This means it can take up to 15 years to open a mine in Ontario. The\u00a0SEZA\u00a0is designed to streamline these processes and expedite critical and strategically important projects necessary to protect the province\u2019s economic and security interests.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n