Ontario has officially bestowed the first designation under its new “One Project, One Process” (1P1P) permitting framework on the PAK hard-rock lithium project in northwestern Ontario. This lithium development, led by Frontier Lithium and located near the Manitoba-Ontario border, will move into a streamlined approval process designed to cut government review time by at least 50 percent.
Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce said the designation signals a shift away from a system where mine approval could take up to 15 years, and toward one that offers greater clarity and speed, especially for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and nickel. The new model retains environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation and land-use obligations, but places all provincial permitting under a single, coordinated team.
With applications now open for other projects to enter 1P1P, the PAK project becomes a benchmark for what Ontario describes as a more efficient route to mine development. The government believes faster permitting will boost investment, secure supply chains and unlock jobs—particularly in strategic sectors such as electric vehicle battery materials.