A mid-sized mining company proposes mechanized drilling on 475 mining claims covering 15,363 hectares in Kenora District, about 34 kilometres south of Swain Post and about 47 kilometres northeast of Ear Falls.
Waiting on a decisionstatus
36 dayswaiting since it was posted on 24 Sep 2026
When it is likely to be decided
The model puts an 8 in 10 chance on a decision between 9 Nov 2026 and the furthest date it looks ahead (our 80% credible interval, shortened elsewhere to the 80% range).
30 Oct 2026Dec 2026Oct 2027Oct 2028Oct 2030
Middle half of the chances (50%)80% range
Forecast made 30 October 2026. Dates are spaced so that the next few weeks and the next few years both fit: the distance from the forecast date grows with the square root of the days.
How it ends
Issued
81%
Refused or withdrawn
3%
Still undecided at the furthest date we look ahead
15%
Key dates
A 1 in 10 chance it is decided by9 Nov 2026
Even odds it is decided by2 Feb 2027
A under 1% chance it is still waiting on1 Nov 2032
Chance it is decided within 3 months, by 29 Jan 202749%
Chance it is decided within 6 months, by 30 Apr 202760%
Chance it is put on hold before a decision40%
What pushes it earlier or later
The named factors that move the middle date most for this application, in days, compared with an application that is typical on that factor: + means later, − means earlier. They are the largest pieces, not the whole account.
EarlierLater
Heavy drilling planned (drills over 150 kilograms)−29 days
The plan includes drilling+15 days
How many decisions the ministry office made in the past six months−10 days
Holds placed on nearby applications in the past year−8 days
Applied in 2023 or later+7 days
Size of the application (475 mining claims)−7 days
Outside the Treaty 9 area−4 days
Public comments received (count published with the decision)+2 days
Applications waiting at the same ministry office+1 day
Some factors about how the ministry handles the file are used but not shown here.
Not yet counted, because the model does not measure them yet: Indigenous nations affected; an impact and benefit agreement; an Indigenous-led assessment; a contested duty to consult; referral to the Minister.
How the forecast has moved
Forecasts for this application side by side. Across: the Friday each was made. Up: the date of the decision. The wider a shape at a date, the likelier a decision then; the dark mark is that week's middle date, and the newest is shaded darker.
2027202820292030203120322033
25 SepFirst forecast30 OctPublic comment closed
Showing 2 of 6 Friday forecasts: the first, the latest, and the weeks it changed, when something happened to the application or the forecast moved more than its usual weekly wobble.
Questions already settled
None of the questions we have asked about this application has been settled yet. The first to settle is whether it is decided by 29 Jan 2027.
The application so far
24 Sep 202630 Oct 2026
Open for public commentUnder review
24 Sep 2026Posted to the registry and opened for public comment
4 weeks later
24 Oct 2026Public comment closed
6 days later
30 Oct 2026Forecast made; still waiting
Dates are the ministry's own. Hover over or tap the strip for the dates and how long each stage took.
Where it is
10 km
Where in Ontario
The outlined area is the mining claims the application covers, 15,363 hectares in all.
What the application asks for
Activities
Mechanized drilling (drills over 150 kilograms)
Mining claims covered
475
Area of those claims
15,363 hectares
Surroundings
Holds within 50 kilometres in the past year
4 applications held for consultation with an Indigenous nation; 3 applications put on a temporary hold
Other exploration plans in circulation within 50 kilometres
5
Workload at the ministry office handling it
113 applications waiting; it decided 50 in the past six months
Applicant
A mid-sized mining company
The applicant’s earlier exploration permits
None before this one
Published Mondays, noon Toronto timeKestrel EconomicsBULLETIN