Northern development and mines
Natural resources and forestry
Protection
- Forest, wildland and outdoor fires
- Floods
- Drought
- Dam failures
- Erosion
- Landslides and sinkholes
- Oil and gas
Natural resources
Crown land
Hunting
- Outdoors Card
- Regulation
- Updates
- Licence (Ontario residents)
- Licence (non-residents)
- Apply to hunt big game
- Wildlife management unit maps
- Hunter reporting
- Moose in Ontario
Wildlife and nature
Protecting Ontario’s natural environment and economy from invasive species
Effective January 1, 2021, we’re regulating 13 new invasive species and watercraft as a carrier of invasive species under Ontario’s Invasive Species Act.
Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS)
Learn how to register a mining claim, manage mining claims online and apply for a prospector’s licence.
What we do
- Support economic and community development in Northern Ontario through investments, loans and partnerships.
- Help Ontario become a leader in sustainable mineral development.
- Collect and publishes maps, reports and data about Ontario’s geology and mining claims.
- Support construction of northern highways and winter roads in the far north.
- Work with Indigenous partners and the mining industry to support sustainable development in the Ring of Fire region.
- Sustainably manage Ontario’s fish and wildlife resources.
- Lead the management of Ontario’s Crown lands, water, oil, gas, salt and aggregates resources, including making Crown land available for renewable energy projects.
- Ensure the sustainable management of Ontario’s Crown forests.
- Protect people, property and communities from forest fires, floods and droughts.
- Develop and apply geographic information to help manage the province’s natural resources.
Contact us for natural resources and forestry-related questions
- Contact form
Tel: 1-800-667-1940 TTY: 1-866-686-6072 - Address and employee directory
- Natural resources and forestry regional offices
- Natural resources jobs
Minister, media and news
Contact us for northern development and mining-related questions
Social media
Agencies, boards and commissions
The ministry is affiliated with the following independent agencies:
- Algonquin Forestry Authority (classified agency)
- Big Game Management Advisory Committee
- Council of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors
- Council of the Ontario Professional Foresters Association
- Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission (classified agency)
- Lake of the Woods Control Board
- Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation
- Niagara Escarpment Commission
- Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
- Ontario Geographic Names Board
- Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board
- Rabies Advisory Committee
Legislation
The ministry administers the following legislation:
- Aggregate Resources Act
- Algonquin Forestry Authority Act
- An Act for the Settlement of Certain Questions between Governments of Canada and Ontario Respecting Indian Reserve Lands
- An Act to Confirm the Title of the Government of Canada to Certain Lands and Indian Lands
- Arboreal Emblem Act
- Avian Emblem Act
- Beds of Navigable Waters Act
- Conservation Land Act, R.S.O 1990, c. C.28
- Crown Forest Sustainability Act
- Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act, 2005, S.O 2005, c. 30
- Far North Act
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
- Fisheries Act (Canada) – Ontario Fishery Regulations
- Fisheries Development Act (Canada)
- Fisheries Loans Act
- Forest Fires Prevention Act
- Forestry Act
- Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act
- Freshwater Fish Marketing Act (Ontario)
- Gas and Oil Leases Act
- Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act
- Indian Lands Act
- Indian Lands Agreement (1986) Confirmation Act
- Industrial and Mining Lands Compensation Act
- Invasive Species Act
- Lake of the Woods Control Board Act
- Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act
- Migratory Birds Convention Act (Canada) – Ontario Regulations
- Mineral Emblem Act
- Mining Act
- Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Act
- Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Act
- Northern Services Boards Act
- Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act
- Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act
- Ontario Forest Tenure Modernization Act
- Ontario Geographic Names Board Act
- Ottawa River Water Powers Act
- Professional Foresters Act
- Professional Geoscientists Act, 2000
- Public Lands Act
- Seine River Diversion Act
- Steep Rock Iron Ore Development Act
- Surveyors Act
- Surveys Act
- Wild Rice Harvesting Act
- Wilderness Areas Act
Updated: May 03, 2022
Published: June 08, 2016