Junior Exploration Assistance

Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) aims to grow the mineral inventory of the province through the discovery of new mineral districts, occurrences, prospects, and deposits.  JEA also aims to advance mineral discoveries through the stage of defining NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources and to enhance Newfoundland and Labrador’s competitiveness as a world-class mineral exploration destination.  Companies primarily engaged in mineral exploration and/or mining may be eligible and can be in receipt of direct or indirect revenues from mineral/mining operations.

JEA is a combination of $1.3 million from Provincial Grant funds, $1.3 million from Critical Mineral Assistance (CMA), and $1.3 million in Provincial Critical Mineral Assistance (PCMA). Funding is provided in the form of rebates for eligible exploration activities and will be applied to projects in the following order: CMA (if eligible); PCMA (if eligible); and Provincial Grant funds. As is the case each year, JEA is pending budget approval.

CMA and PCMA funding will help provide larger rebates to companies who undertake eligible critical mineral exploration activities in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

An illustration of possible funding scenarios is available in the FAQs section of the JEA website. As in previous years, non-critical mineral projects will still receive a rebate through the provincial $1.3 million JEA grant funding.

The JEA Guidelines, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Intent Guide have been modified for 2026.  It is the responsibility of parties interested in obtaining JEA support to review and follow the requirements of the JEA 2026 Guidelines to be eligible for funding.

Pending JEA budget approval for the 2026 – 2027 fiscal year, rebates will provide financial support of 40 – 75% of approved exploration costs, to a maximum of $150,000 per project on the island of Newfoundland and $225,000 for Labrador-based projects. If JEA is oversubscribed, rebates will be prorated.  Please review the JEA 2026 Guidelines for more details.

JEA 2026 Documents for LOI Submission

 

JEA 2025 Documents for Final Reports

 

Recipients

A listing of JEA rebate recipients and final rebate payment amounts will be posted annually. Final payment of rebates will match applicants’ eligible costs up to the maximum as outlined in the listing and will be dependent on the submission of a satisfactory final report and supporting documentation as outlined in the program guidelines.

JEA 2025 REBATE ESTIMATES

The listing below illustrates the estimated rebate amount based on all accepted Letters of Intent for Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) in 2025.  The estimated total payment reflects any applicable Provincial Grant funds, Critical Mineral Assistance (CMA), and Provincial Critical Mineral Assistance (PCMA).  To be eligible for a rebate, an applicant that has submitted an accepted Letter of Intent must adhere to the requirements outlined in the JEA 2025 Guidelines.

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