Crawford Nickel Project: status, trades and pay

What has to happen first

Canada Nickel has its federal impact assessment decision. It still needs detailed engineering, project financing, and the remaining provincial and federal permits before it can build.

Sources31

For project news, see Canada Nickel Company’s website, www.canadanickel.com.

Sources3

Trades typical for an open-pit nickel mine

• Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator)

• Heavy Duty Equipment Technician

• Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)

• Industrial Electrician

• Welder

• Heavy Equipment Operator (Dozer)

• Steamfitter/Pipefitter

• Instrumentation and Control Technician

• Construction Electrician

• Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)

These trades are typical for this kind of mine, not jobs posted at Crawford.

Ontario wages for millwrights, electricians and steamfitters

Hourly · Ontario · Data from 2023 to 2024 · Dated November 19, 2025

Ontario’s ticket rules for compulsory trades are on the nuclear and uranium page.

Job forecasts

Two federal bodies give different forecasts:

• The Major Projects Office forecasts about 5,000 construction jobs and 1,300 jobs during operation.

• The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada says the project could create 4,000 new careers.

These forecasts do not tell you how many jobs are open.

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First Nations

• Agreements with the Mattagami, Matachewan and Flying Post First Nations cover early business and employment opportunities, and commit the parties to negotiate contracting opportunities.[7][8]

• Taykwa Tagamou Nation is investing $20 million through convertible notes, loans that could become a meaningful equity stake in the project, meaning an ownership share.[7][8]

• Canada Nickel says it has a major infrastructure contracting agreement with Wabun Tribal Council member First Nations.[3]

Background

The federal registry says the project would operate for about 41 years. Canada Nickel Company proposes to build and run the mine.

Sources27

What has happened

• November 13, 2025:

  the federal government referred the project to the Major Projects Office.[7][8]

• January 13, 2026:

  Ontario named Crawford the second project under its One Project, One Process framework, Canada Nickel announced.[9]

• July 31, 2026:

  the federal minister issued the project’s impact assessment decision statement (Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature).[1][2]

Related pages

• Major projects in Canada for trades workers
• Canada Investment Summit 2026: a guide for trades
• Sisson Mine in New Brunswick: status and trades
• Nuclear and uranium work in Ontario and Saskatchewan: projects, clearance and pay
• How to get hired on a major project in Canada
• How Werko checks facts
• Heavy equipment operator resume
• Millwright resume