Critical Minerals Report – May 2025

Canada Invests in Green Jobs for Youths

The government of Canada announced $15 million to create 470 employment and skills training opportunities for youth across Canada in natural resources sectors including energy, forestry, mining, earth sciences and clean technology.

Through the Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) – Green Jobs, employers in natural resources sectors can apply for funding to hire, train and mentor youth aged 15 to 30 for up to 12 months. These job opportunities will ensure that Canada’s natural resources sectors remain a source of economic growth and prosperity in the future.

STIP – Green Jobs is part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), which supports youth in gaining the hands-on skills and experience they need to effectively transition into the labour market.

BC Premier Unveils Plan to Secure Billions in Mining Investments, Build Prosperity Through Partnership, Conservation

Premier David Eby outlined an approach to mining development in the northwest that combines economic growth, reconciliation and conservation to realize an opportunity for tens of billions of dollars in investment and thousands of good paying jobs to support families throughout the province.

To drive B.C. becoming the economic engine of Canada’s new economy, the Province will support the strategy through a range of measures. In the coming weeks the province will provide additional details on how the plan will be executed, including:

Working to complete consent-based agreements with First Nations to provide predictability on processes for resource development;
An inclusive expedited process to protect important lands and watersheds in partnership with First Nations that balances with development of this significant economic opportunity;
Investments in the social well-being and physical infrastructure northern communities need to thrive alongside new economic growth;
Working with other provinces and Ottawa to seek new trade agreements that prioritize B.C.’s minerals and metals;
Continuing government’s work to provide resources to speed up permitting while maintaining high environmental standards and B.C.’s commitment to reconciliation;
Building out B.C.’s clean electricity grid, powering new mines and mine extensions, while ensuring B.C.’s mine industry is the cleanest in the world;
Providing certainty and timeliness for investors through future regulatory and infrastructure policy changes;
Aligning approval processes for projects of provincial or national significance with Ottawa so that there is one project, one review.

B.C. is uniquely positioned with port access to growing and emerging markets in Asia where critical minerals are in high demand. Unlocking these jobs through the critical minerals vision creates generational opportunities for long-term jobs and economic prosperity.

Ontario Investing $500 Million in Critical Minerals Processing

The Ontario government is investing $500 million to create a new Critical Minerals Processing Fund as part of its plan to protect Ontario by building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy. The fund will provide strategic financial support to projects that accelerate the province’s critical minerals processing capacity and made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain, to ensure that minerals mined in Ontario will be processed in Ontario by Ontario workers. This funding complements the government’s ongoing efforts to unlock Ontario’s critical minerals in the Ring of Fire and elsewhere, to help protect Ontario’s workers and economy from the impact of tariffs and economic uncertainty.

As part of the province’s 2025 Budget, the new fund will help unleash the full economic potential of Ontario’s mineral resources sector by ensuring existing mineral processing facilities can maximize their production, as well as supporting the construction of new processing facilities, so Ontario can meet increasing global demand. By building and upgrading critical mineral processing infrastructure, minerals mined in Ontario will be refined in Ontario, instead of being shipped to other jurisdictions.

In an increasingly volatile global market, the new fund will help Ontario meet international demand for critical minerals as a stable, reliable trading partner. Processing critical minerals mined in Ontario will also help protect local jobs in key manufacturing sectors like the auto industry by connecting northern resources with state-of-the-art production facilities in the south.

Ontario Investing $3.1 Billion to Support Indigenous Partnership in Critical Mineral Development

As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, the province is supporting the creation of a made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain that includes new resources and opportunities for Indigenous equity partnerships. These measures include nearly $3.1 billion in loans, grants and scholarships that would support Indigenous participation, partnership and ownership in Ontario’s critical mineral supply chain.

To unlock Ontario’s critical minerals, create new jobs and opportunities and ensure Indigenous communities reap the benefits of critical mineral development, the province is proposing the following measures as part of its 2025 budget, A Plan to Protect Ontario:

Tripling the total amount of loan guarantees through the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (formerly the Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program) to $3 billion and expanding eligibility beyond the electricity sector to include eligible projects in mining and critical minerals, resource development, energy, pipelines and other sectors, to help support investments by Indigenous communities in Ontario’s growth.
Investing $70 million over four years through the Indigenous Participation Fund (formerly known as the Aboriginal Participation Fund) to improve capacity for Indigenous communities and organizations in areas of high mineral activity to participate in regulatory processes related to mineral exploration and mine development. The investment will provide greater capacity support to Indigenous communities to enable meaningful consultation on mineral exploration and mine development projects and better equip Indigenous communities to leverage economic opportunities through increased participation in Ontario’s growing minerals sector.
Providing $10 million over three years to create new scholarship opportunities for First Nations postsecondary students interested in pursuing careers in resource development, equipping them with access to the tools and training to succeed as leaders and innovators.

“Ontario is fully committed to unlocking the full potential of our critical minerals and with it the full potential of our province and its people,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “This is more than just a mining investment; it’s a blueprint for a stronger, more prosperous North as we increase funding and partnership with Indigenous communities. We’re creating real opportunities so young people and Indigenous communities can build their futures at home with good jobs, hands-on skills, and lasting careers. The world needs what Ontario has, and we’re ready to deliver.”

Manitoba Government Introduces Legislation to Break Down Interprovincial Trade Barriers, Proclaim June 1 as Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day

The Manitoba government has introduced legislation to bring down interprovincial trade barriers and help grow the province’s economy, Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation.

Bill 47, the fair trade in Canada act, would remove trade barriers for goods and services between Manitoba and other jurisdictions in Canada. The proposed legislation is based on mutual recognition similar to other provinces, the minister noted.

If the federal government, a province or a territory has legislation or an approach similar to Manitoba’s for removing barriers to trade in goods and services, the Manitoba government may designate it as a reciprocating jurisdiction.

Under mutual recognition rules, the goods and services of a reciprocating jurisdiction that meet its standards and approvals would be recognized as meeting the comparable standards and approvals in Manitoba.

The mutual recognition rules would not apply to goods and services that are provided by Crown corporations. With this legislation, the Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act would be amended to proclaim June 1 of each year as Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day.

Nova Scotia Updates Critical Minerals Strategy

Nova Scotia has expanded its focus on critical and strategic minerals to create jobs, attract investment and help advance the move to clean energy.

The Department has added four more minerals to its critical minerals list and created a new list of four strategic minerals.

“This update shows that we are moving forward to unlock the full potential of Nova Scotia’s abundant natural resources,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources. “We’ve lifted blanket bans and we’re targeting minerals that are in great demand for the clean energy transition in Canada and around the world. We’re also focusing on minerals that will help us grow our economy and create good-paying jobs for Nova Scotians.”

Critical minerals are used in areas such as clean energy, defence and healthcare. These additions to the critical minerals list bring the total to 20:

High purity silica used for solar panels and semiconductors
Silver used for solar panels and thermoelectric devices
Tellurium used for solar panels and thermoelectric devices
Uranium used for nuclear energy and health applications.

Canada's New Energy Minister Vows to Speed Up Permitting, Reset Industry Relations

Canada’s new Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson vowed to speed up the permitting process for major projects on Friday, in a speech welcomed by oil and gas executives eager to see Ottawa reset its regulatory approach to energy development.

A former Goldman Sachs banker who was elected in a Toronto riding, Hodgson pledged to be a voice for western Canada and help the country’s energy sector improve relations with Ottawa

He said he will work to identify and fast-track projects of national interest aimed at helping the country become a conventional and clean energy superpower. Canada is the world’s fourth-largest oil producer.

The oil and gas sector had a tense relationship with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, which it viewed as prioritizing climate action over economic development, but Carney has pledged to help diversify energy export markets amid a trade dispute with Canada’s No. 1 customer, the United States.

Hodgson said responsibly produced Canadian oil could displace oil produced in authoritarian regimes, but the country needed infrastructure to get its energy to ports for export to markets beyond the U.S.

The CEOs of many of Canada’s biggest oil and gas companies said they were encouraged by Hodgson’s background in finance as well as the pro-development tone of his remarks.

Quebec Premier Wants to Speed Up Mining Projects

With the uncertainty caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the job losses that could result, Premier François Legault wants to put his foot on the gas pedal for mining projects so that Quebec can exploit its critical minerals more quickly.

“We’re going to have to shorten lead times. We need to get rid of all the work and bureaucracy involved in obtaining permits (…) It’s urgent that we act!” he said on Monday.

“In the mining sector, we have a golden opportunity,” he added.

Faced with American threats to withdraw from NATO and an increasingly bellicose Russia, the European Union recently announced its intention to invest the colossal sum of 800 billion euros to rearm.

The Premier believes that Quebec could take advantage of this situation and win contracts related to European defense.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre proposed on Monday the creation of an “energy corridor” to speed up approvals for “essential infrastructure” in Canada.

Earlier this month, he suggested designating areas as “Canadian build-ready zones” that would effectively be “pre-approved and pre-approved zones” for projects such as mines, data centers, power plants and LNG liquefaction plants.

Legault doesn’t go as far as Poilievre. “Each project is case-by-case. You have to look at the environmental impact, whether it’s socially acceptable and whether it’s safe for employees. So I don’t think we can do without carrying out certain studies for each project. On the other hand, they need to be done much more quickly, and we need to stop duplicating efforts. The federal government has to get out of this,” he explained.

Critical Minerals in North America: Recap of the Second Critical Minerals Mission to Washington, D.C.

“We’re going to have to shorten lead times. We need to get rid of all the work and bureaucracy involved in obtaining permits (…) It’s urgent that we act!” he said on Monday.

“In the mining sector, we have a golden opportunity,” he added.

Faced with American threats to withdraw from NATO and an increasingly bellicose Russia, the European Union recently announced its intention to invest the colossal sum of 800 billion euros to rearm.

The Premier believes that Quebec could take advantage of this situation and win contracts related to European defense.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre proposed on Monday the creation of an “energy corridor” to speed up approvals for “essential infrastructure” in Canada.

Volkswagen's EV Battery-Maker Charges Ahead With $7 Billion Gigafactory as Rivals’ Plans Stall

Volkswagen-owned EV battery manufacturer PowerCo is “confident” the state-of-the-art gigafactory it is building in southern Ontario will move into production in 2027, despite market headwinds that have led the province’s five other auto majors to pull back from multi-billion-dollar sector investments over the past year.

PowerCo, which has a $7 billion battery plant under construction in St, Thomas, credited a flexible technology manufacturing strategy with helping it weather regional sector uncertainties in Canada created by the combination of a slow-down in EV demand and the impact of US auto sector tariffs.

Earlier this week, Honda Motors became the latest international automaker to pump the brakes on its EV supply chain development plans in Ontario, blaming “changing conditions” for the postponement of its $15 billion investment in the province.

The decision adds to the mounting woes faced by Canada’s EV manufacturing ambitions, which have already encountered setbacks with Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Toyota having paused or shelved factory construction plans, leaving the government’s $100 billion strategy in limbo.

Broken Trust and Bill 5: First Nations Rally Against Doug Ford’s Controversial Mining Bill

Since May 22, Grand Chief Friday and 24 other First Nation leaders have travelled long distances — including from Sandy Lake First Nation, nearly 1,500 kilometres away — to appear before a government that failed to visit before pushing through legislation that could have hugely detrimental impacts to their homelands. They came with a blunt warning: repeal Bill 5 or face lawsuits and land blockades.

The sweeping 229-page legislation proposes to create “special economic zones” for mining and development where provincial and municipal regulations can be evaded, and eliminate protections for species at risk and cultural heritage.

The government touts the bill as a response to Donald Trump’s tariffs, pledging it would turn Ontario into an “economic powerhouse,” starting by turning the remote and environmentally sensitive Ring of Fire region in the James Bay Lowlands into its first special economic zone. But the bill was written without having a single conversation with many Indigenous communities that would be most impacted by an increase in unchecked mining activity — communities that have historically not reaped the financial or social rewards of such industry.

Long before Trump’s tariff threats, the government was warned internally about the likelihood of receiving this reaction to a similar proposal. In February 2024, the government introduced the Get It Done Act, which now allows it to expropriate land for major infrastructure projects. Internal documents obtained by The Narwhal at the time showed the government was considering creating “special building zones” to take over local decision-making on certain priority projects. The internal document said that while “developers and construction companies may react positively,” Indigenous communities and environmental stakeholders might take issue with the plan.

New Brunswick Government Pushes Critical Minerals, Opposition Says Natural Gas and Pipelines Should Be Included

The New Brunswick government says it will formalize a strategy for developing its critical minerals industry, prompted by the U.S. trade war.

Natural Resources Minister John Herron says a comprehensive framework should be ready within the next year, including consultations with First Nations and host communities.

Out of Canada’s list of 32 critical minerals and metals, New Brunswick has 21, including manganese (for the production of batteries and copper), and indium (for the production of solar panels and touch screens).

The provincial government didn’t have a dollar figure on Wednesday for how much the province’s critical minerals industry may be worth. In addition to the trade war, Herron says the development of a framework for critical minerals would address worldwide demand.

The official Opposition says it supports the government’s plans of creating a critical mineral strategy but argues it doesn’t go far enough.

Progressive Conservative MLA Kris Austin says the province should also take action to formalize support for natural gas exploration, and an Energy-East type pipeline delivering oil and gas from Alberta.