Critical Minerals Overview of July 2026
Prime Minister Carney Deepens Partnership with Saudi Arabia Across Trade, Education, Technology, and Critical Minerals
Saudi Arabia is Canada’s second-largest trading partner in the Middle East, supporting tens of thousands of Canadian jobs, and with rapidly growing ties across education, energy, defence, critical minerals, and advanced technologies. With a $1.8 trillion economy and an ambitious economic transformation agenda under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia offers significant opportunities for Canadian workers, businesses, and expertise.
To deepen this partnership, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, travelled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – the first visit to the country by a Canadian Prime Minister in 26 years. During the visit, the Prime Minister met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman. Together they issued a joint statement with key commitments to deepen cooperation across trade, technology, mining and natural resources, energy, health, education, people-to-people ties, and defence.
In Jeddah, Canada and Saudi Arabia signed 13 new commercial agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth over $1 billion – spanning health technology, mining, infrastructure, and defence. This will enable:
- Canadian firms supporting mining, critical minerals, and clean energy projects in Saudi Arabia.
- Canadian infrastructure companies helping to deliver Vision 2030 projects, including roads and rail lines.
- Canadian health technology companies deploying Canadian-made capabilities from patient monitoring and clinical decision-support technologies to surgical intelligence platforms.
- Experts from Canadian colleges training the next generation of the Saudi workforce, including construction, skilled trades, medicine, and technology.
Minister Joly Announces Federal Investments Backing Canadian Mining Innovations to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply Chains and Improve Mine Restoration
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, accompanied by Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, and by Rhonda Barnet, interim CEO of Canada’s Digital Technology Cluster (DIGITAL), announced federal support of $6.7 million for two Canadian-led mining innovation projects, valued at $19.8 million, that will help advance more precise critical minerals extraction and improve ecological restoration monitoring across the mining sector. Canada has the resources to build and innovate here at home, turning our natural advantages into economic opportunities for workers and industry.
The projects, led by Novamera Inc. of Oakville, Ontario, and Koonkie Canada Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, will accelerate the development and adoption of Canadian technologies that support responsible resource development while strengthening Canada’s critical minerals supply chains. The investments will help move innovative solutions from development to real-world deployment, creating opportunities for Canadian companies to commercialize and scale their technologies.
Novamera will receive $3.8 million from DIGITAL toward a $10.9 million project to advance its Surgical Mining technology, which combines advanced subsurface imaging, artificial intelligence, robotics and conventional drilling equipment to access critical mineral deposits with greater precision. Koonkie will receive $2.9 million toward an $8.9 million project to develop an AI-powered platform that integrates environmental DNA analysis, soil health data, remote sensing and Indigenous ecological knowledge to support ecological restoration and biodiversity monitoring at mine sites.
Canada Announces First Agreement Under New Canada Critical Minerals Accelerator
Canada is entering a new era of mining, defined by speed, scale and purpose. Introduced in Budget 2025, the new Canada Critical Minerals Accelerator (CCMA) will catalyze private sector investment, get projects built faster and secure the critical minerals Canada and the world need for economic sovereignty, national security and the energy transition.
The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, launched the Canada Critical Minerals Accelerator (CCMA) and announced a Strategic Investment Agreement signed by the CCMA, the Canada Growth Fund (CGF) and Teck Resources Limited (Teck). The Agreement supports expanding production capacity at Teck’s Trail Operations in British Columbia, one of the world’s largest fully integrated polymetallic smelting and refining complexes.
The CCMA, a Natural Resources Canada initiative delivered by Export Development Canada (EDC), is a first-of-its-kind investment tool designed to accelerate Canadian critical mineral projects along the value chain from extraction to processing. The CCMA enables the Government of Canada to invest in projects alongside industry, moving them forward while generating investment returns that can be re-invested into more projects that create benefits for Canadians.
Teck’s Trail Operations in southern British Columbia currently produces nineteen products, employs over 1,400 people and has a long history of critical minerals production. The expansion is part of an up-to $850-million potential total investment by Teck to sustain and enhance critical minerals processing capacity at its Trail Operations from a portfolio of feed sources, which could double Trail’s existing production capacity for germanium and antimony and potentially add new gallium production capacity.
The agreement establishes the commercial framework for an equity-like investment by CGF of up to $400 million directly into the facility. Through the CCMA, the agreement allows the Government of Canada to enter into negotiations on the establishment of an offtake structure, including rights for a portion of future germanium, antimony and gallium produced by Trail. This will build on Canada’s position as a reliable global supplier of critical minerals.
B.C., Simpcw Sign Consent Agreement for Proposed Yellowhead Copper Mine
The Province and Simpcw First Nation have entered into a consent-based decision-making agreement for the environmental assessment and review of the Yellowhead Copper Project, proposed by Trekor Metals Limited, in Simpcwul’ecw (Simpcw Territory).
The agreement was signed by Simpcw Ku̓kwpi7 (Chief) George Lampreau; Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks; Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; and Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals.
The agreement provides clarity for the review of the proposed Yellowhead Copper mine, aligning the two governments’ individual assessment processes, with an efficient, timely, collaborative and consent-based approach.
Simpcw and the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) will collaboratively carry out their assessment processes to inform their separate decisions on the proposed Yellowhead mine, including the Province’s decision on an environmental assessment certificate, and Simpcw’s decision on whether to provide its consent for the project to proceed.
Strengthening the Kootenays’ Critical-Metal Sector
With provincial support, a new critical-metals hub is being created in the Kootenays to put local businesses in a better position to grow and create jobs by seizing new opportunities created through new, nearby major mining projects.
Through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program, the Province is providing $300,300 to the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society for its Advancing Critical Metal Tech Alley initiative.
This initiative was designed to:
- attract investment
- support businesses to find new ways to grow and create jobs
- expand the region’s production of high-value critical-metals products
The critical-metals hub will focus on finding new ways to help companies:
- recover critical metals from recycled materials and process them
- expand promising technologies
- bring new products to market
Province Issues Environmental Assessment Certificate for Angus Silica Sand Mine
The Province of British Columbia has issued an environmental assessment certificate to Vitreo Minerals Ltd. for its Angus silica sand mine north of Prince George.
Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks, and Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals, made the decision after carefully considering the Environmental Assessment Office’s (EAO) assessment report and recommendations, along with input from First Nations, technical experts, local communities and the public. An environmental assessment certificate is required for the project to proceed.
The EAO’s assessment of the project concluded that the Angus project would not cause significant adverse effects once mitigation measures and proposed conditions are applied. The EAO determined that the mine would provide economic benefits through jobs, business activity and government revenue, as well as supply a product domestically that is currently imported from the United States.
The Angus project will provide a local source of silica sand and have a mine life of approximately 20 years. The project is expected to generate approximately 150 jobs during construction and nearly 140 jobs throughout operations, supporting local and First Nations employment and training, along with $300 million in investment.
Ontario Investing $25 Million to Support Indigenous Energy Projects
The Ontario government announced that 148 projects will receive funding through the 2025 intake of the Indigenous Energy Support Program (IESP). As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is investing $25 million through the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to support Indigenous-led energy initiatives that strengthen community participation in Ontario’s growing energy sector. This investment advances Indigenous leadership, supports community-driven energy projects and helps ensure Ontario has the affordable, secure, clean and reliable electricity needed to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy.
Funding is provided across three Areas of Funding (AOF):
- Capacity Building to support education and awareness initiatives, energy skills-building, as well as the hiring of a Community Energy Champion (CEC) to leverage energy opportunities
- Economic Development to support equitable access to project partnerships and energy infrastructure development opportunities.
The IESO expanded the Economic Development AOF to include an enhanced Remote Projects Development stream, designed to advance diesel reduction and energy transition objectives in nine identified off-grid First Nation communities.
- Energy Resiliency and Monitoring to support the development and updating of community energy plans and initiatives. Applications for 2026 funding are now open, with more information available here. The deadline to apply is October 2, 2026.
Ontario Unveils Proposed Route for Northern Shield Energy Corridor
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveiled the proposed route for the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, a proposed crude oil pipeline and energy corridor that would strengthen Canada’s energy security by bringing oil along a 3,300-kilometre primary route from Hardisty, Alberta, to Sarnia, Ontario. This historic nation-building project would be built exclusively through Canada, connecting the country with critical energy infrastructure to reduce Canada’s reliance on foreign markets, provide critical redundancy to existing infrastructure, bring additional capacity to refineries in Sarnia, strengthen national security and domestic supply chains and create new jobs for Canadian workers.
The primary route under review would lead to Sarnia, Ontario, which has refining capacity serving the Ontario market and is directly linked to existing energy and shipping infrastructure. Ontario is also exploring pipeline extensions to new and existing ports, creating new opportunities to bring Canadian oil to new tidewater to reach new markets abroad. The proposed route would also provide the Government of Manitoba and the Manitoba-Crown Indigenous Corporation with the opportunity to explore the feasibility of a pipeline extension to the Port of Churchill.
The proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor would move an estimated 500,000 barrels of oil per day for domestic use and export markets and could expand to up to a total of 800,000 barrels per day. By reducing Canadian reliance on oil imports, the Northern Shield pipeline could help stabilize oil prices across the country and strengthen national security. As part of the new pipeline and port opportunities, Ontario is also exploring a potential strategic petroleum reserve. The pipeline would be built using Canadian steel, supporting Canadian manufacturing and supply chains and creating jobs across the country.
Amended Industrial Approval Issued for Zinc Mine
Scotia Mine Ltd. has received approval for changes at its open pit zinc mine in Cooks Brook, Halifax County.
The company’s existing industrial approval has been amended to allow for site changes needed for the mine to restart operations, which the company plans to do in 2027. The site is about 600 hectares in size, and the company expects to have up to 150 employees when fully operational.
Caribou Mine Gets New Owner
Canadian Copper Inc., a mineral development company, has acquired the mine through the receivership proceedings of Trevali Mining (New Brunswick) Ltd.
The project is expected to produce significant economic benefits, creating about 230 jobs during the construction phase – which is anticipated to start in 2027 – and about 115 permanent positions during operations.
The company plans to use the mill at the mine site to process material taken from the nearby Murray Brook site, producing copper and zinc, which have been identified as critical minerals in Canada.
GNWT Assumes Responsibility for Ekati Mine as Company Enters Receivership
A Court Order placed the Ekati Mine into Receivership and appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. as Receiver.
The Receivership follows the conclusion of a court-supervised restructuring and sale process initiated by Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd. and Burgundy Diamonds (Canada) Ltd. (the “Companies”) under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. The sales process did not result in a viable solution to allow continued operation of the Ekati mine. The Companies no longer have funding and as a result, the GNWT made an application to appoint a Receiver to assume responsibility of the mine site’s assets and activities. The GNWT will advance funds to the Receiver using the Companies’ reclamation security to fund the reclamation and closure of the site during the Receivership.
The Receiver is on-site at Ekati and is overseeing activities to ensure site stability, safety and environmental protection. The Receiver is responsible for maintaining essential functions at the site, protecting environmental controls, supporting an orderly transition, and ensuring environmental and regulatory obligations continue to be managed through the appropriate processes.
The GNWT is committed to ensuring that environmental monitoring, water management, site security and other critical activities continue without interruption. Technical experts, regulators and Indigenous Governments will continue to play important roles as the site transitions into care and maintenance, reclamation and closure.
The GNWT is also committed to supporting Northern workers, contractors, suppliers, and local businesses. The GNWT has directed the Receiver to ensure the continued participation of northern and Indigenous workers and businesses where appropriate, and in line with the court order.