Federal critical-mineral strategy offers miners a `window of opportunity'

The federal government's just-announced critical minerals strategy opens “a window of opportunity” for B.C., which is already Canada's top copper producer and holds promising reserves of nickel and rare-earth metals, says the B.C. mining association.

“(The strategy) holds potential in the near term to help facilitate and expedite the current regulatory processes for development projects in British Columbia,” said Michael Goering, CEO of the Mining Association of B.C.

Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson unveiled the strategy in Vancouver on Friday, which is aimed at streamlining mine approvals for so-called “critical minerals,” such as copper, nickel, lithium and rare-earth elements, and supporting development of mineral-processing infrastructure.

Those are a few key minerals where demand is expected to skyrocket by 500 per cent by 2050, and Canada has an abundance of, Wilkinson said.

“Simply put, there is no energy transition without critical minerals,” Wilkinson said.

And against that backdrop, “it cannot take us 12 to 15 years to open a new mine in this country, not if we want to achieve our climate goals and move rapidly through the energy transition.”

To help expedite timelines, Wilkinson said Canada will work with the provinces to harmonize environmental assessments, which is something B.C. already does with Ottawa with a substitution deal on such approvals, allowing the province to provide a single assessment for major mines.

Wilkinson said government will also “accelerate processes and timelines under existing regulatory regimes,” through a “concierge service,” that Natural Resources Canada will establish in a critical minerals centre for excellence.

And Wilkinson added Canada will do so by respecting Indigenous rights, ensuring First Nations have the resources to meaningfully participate in environmental assessments and decision-making along with revenue-sharing as a means of “economic reconciliation.”

Goering said bolstering Indigenous participation, particularly in building capacity for First Nations to evaluate and participate in projects, will be important for B.C.

The mining industry has advocated for better supports for First Nations when it comes to building the technical and administrative capacity, “so they can participate and benefit from critical minerals projects,” Goering said. “It's time.”

The CEO of a B.C. mineral exploration firm called that “fundamental” to moving projects forward.