The Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth is a ministry responsible for social and economic development in Northern Ontario.
In 2021, then Canadian Premier Doug Ford separated the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines into the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, by merging the ministry (excluding Energy, which was made into its own portfolio) with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry (MNDMNRF) in Ontario was reorganized into separate ministries on June 6, 2024. This reorganization resulted in the creation of the Ministry of Mines, the Ministry of Northern Development, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
In 2025, current Premier Doug Ford again reorganized by merging the Ministry of Mines with the Ministry of Energy, forming the new Ministry of Energy and Mines.
History 1842 - Geological Survey of Canada formed by the Province of Canada 1846 - Commissioner of Crown Lands (Province of Canada) assumed control for mines and mining. 1867 - Responsibility for mines and mining transferred to the Ontario Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Montreal-based Geological Survey of Canada became part of the new federal government and moved to Ottawa in 1881. 1890 - Royal Commission on Ontario's Mineral Resources (Chairman, John M. Charlton) 1891 - Ontario Bureau of Mines established with Archibald Blue as its first director. 1905 – The first cabinet minister from Northern Ontario, Sudbury's Frank Cochrane, is appointed. Cochrane serves as minister of the new Department of Lands, Forests and Mines until 1911. 1912 – The Department creates a Northern Development Branch to further support growth in the North. In 1926, this branch becomes the Department of Northern Development. 1930s – The Department of Northern Development merges with the Department of Highways. Its purpose: to build and maintain roads and bridges in Northern Ontario. 1970 – The government creates a new Department of Mines and Northern Affairs in response to northerners' concerns about the lack of access to provincial government information. Twenty-four Northern Affairs offices in the region bring the Ontario government to northerners. This department changes name and responsibilities throughout the 1970s and early 1980s due to government restructuring. 1985 – The government creates a new Ministry of Northern Affairs and Mines. Later that year, the name becomes the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. The change emphasizes the province's commitment to greater social and economic development in the north. 1990 – The ministry headquarters are re-located to two new buildings in Sudbury. 2009 – The realignment of forestry from the Ministry of Natural Resources to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines is announced reflecting the importance of forestry to many northern and rural communities. The renamed Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry now leads the business and economic aspects of forestry, including industrial strategy, forest sector competitiveness programs, softwood lumber and wood allocation, pricing and licensing. 2011 – Forestry is once again allocated back to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the name shortened to its original 'Ministry of Northern Development and Mines'. Honourable Minister Rick Bartolucci, former Minister of Community Safety and Correctional services, is appointed Minister of Northern Development and Mines on October 20. 2013 - Premier Kathleen Wynne appoints Michael Gravelle as Minister of Northern Development and Mines, on February 11. 2018 - Premier Doug Ford appoints Greg Rickford as Minister of Northern Development and Mines, on June 29. 2019 - Premier Doug Ford renames the Ministry to Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. 2021 - Premier Doug Ford separates the Ministry to Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, Northern Development and Mines 2024 - Premier Doug Ford separates the Ministries to Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, Ministry of Northern Development and Ministry of Mines 2025 - Premier Doug Ford merges the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Mines to for the Ministry of Energy and Mines
List of ministers
1867–1970
Period Name Minister (Commissioner before 1905)18671905Department of Crown Lands Stephen Richards, 1867–1871 Matthew Crooks Cameron, July–December 1871 Richard William Scott, 1871–1873 Timothy Blair Pardee, 1873–1889 Arthur Sturgis Hardy, 1889–1896 John Morison Gibson, 1896–1899 Elihu Davis, 1899–1904 Alexander Grant MacKay, 1904–1905 James Joseph Foy, February–May 190519051906Department of Lands and Mines Francis Cochrane19061920Department of Lands, Forests and Mines Francis Cochrane, 1906–1911 William Howard Hearst, 1911–1914 Howard Ferguson, 1914–191919061970Department of Mines Harry Mills, 1920–1923 Charles McCrea, 1923–1934 Paul Leduc, 1934–1940 Robert Laurier, 1940–1943 Leslie Frost, 1943–1949 Welland Gemmell, 1949–1952 Philip Kelly, 1952–1957 Wilf Spooner, 1957–1958 James Anthony Maloney, 1958–1961 George Wardrope, 1961–1967 Allan Lawrence, 1968–1970
1970 to present Period Name Minister19701972Ministry of Mines and Northern AffairsAllan Lawrence, 1970–1971 Leo Bernier, 1971–197219771985Ministry of Northern AffairsLeo Bernier, 1977–1985June 1985November 1985Ministry of Mines and Northern AffairsRené Fontaine, June–November 198519851987Ministry of Northern Development and MinesRené Fontaine, 1985–1986 David Peterson, 1986–198719871991Ministry of MinesSean Conway, 1987–1989 Hugh O'Neil, 1989–1990 Gilles Pouliot, 1990–199119871991Ministry of Northern DevelopmentRené Fontaine, 1987–1990 Shelley Martel, 1990–199119911995Ministry of Northern Development and MinesShelley Martel, 1991–1994 Gilles Pouliot, 1994–199519951997Ministry of Natural Resources, Northern Development and MinesChris Hodgson, 1995–199719972009Ministry of Northern Development and MinesChris Hodgson, 1997–1999 Tim Hudak, 1999–2001 Dan Newman, 2001–2002 Jim Wilson, 2002–2003 Rick Bartolucci, October 23, 2003 – October 30, 2007 Michael Gravelle, October 30, 2007 – June 24, 200920092011Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and ForestryMichael Gravelle, June 24, 2009 – October 20, 201120112019Ministry of Northern Development and MinesRick Bartolucci, October 20, 2011 – February 11, 2013 Michael Gravelle, 2013–2018 Hon. Greg Rickford, 2018-201920192021Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and MinesHon. Greg Rickford, 2019-2021
Ministry agencies
Council of The Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation Ontario Energy Board Ontario Power Generation
OBM Progress Medal
The OBM Progress Medal was given out by the Ontario Bureau of Mines and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in 1991 to celebrate 100 years of progress. Featuring a Trillium grandiflorum laid over a Pickaxe, the Medal weighs 17 grams.GUIDE TO TOKENS and MEDALS, Millar (1992), p.67
References
External links Ministry of Northern Development and Mines website History of Ontario Mining - http://www.republicofmining.com/2010/07/23/brief-history-of-ontario-mining