OTTAWA – The Canadian Mining Association (MAC) congratulates the Government of Canada on the release of the Critical Minerals Strategy (CMS), a 21st century industrial strategy that builds on Canada’s strength as the world’s leading supplier of sustainably produced minerals for energy Metals needed for transformation.
“The government’s CMS is clear, focused and action-oriented,” said MAC President and CEO Pierre Gratton. “It articulates an end-to-end industrial strategy, from early exploration, through mining, to the key manufacturing sector essential to combating climate change. It is arguably the most important industrial strategy the country has seen in decades.”
The CMS integrates and builds on the significant investments in critical minerals announced by the Federal Government in the 2022 Budget and the Autumn Economic Statement (FES). FES also said it would add more funds in future budgets to support the implementation of the CMS. MAC is encouraged and excited by the opportunities this strategy presents for the Canadian mining sector, especially the opportunity to play a key role in building the Canada of the future. MAC is also encouraged by the recognition that more must be done at all levels of government to improve the timeliness of new project approvals while maintaining Canada’s high environmental standards and commitment to Aboriginal rights.
“Canada has a competitive advantage over many countries in the ESG space,” Gratton added. “Our abundance of clean energy means our minerals and metals emit some of the lowest carbon emissions in the world. Our regulatory system is world-class. Indigenous rights are constitutionally respected and increasingly integrated into legal frameworks. Additionally , MAC has developed and implemented a mandatory ESG program, Towards Sustainable Mining, that addresses key goals such as Indigenous engagement, biodiversity conservation and climate change. The world needs more Canadian mining, and we Ways need to be found to move forward with new projects quickly. Our allies are counting on us to do that, and so are Canadians.”
A recent survey by Abacus Data found that support for the Canadian mining industry is at an all-time high, particularly in the critical minerals sector, with nearly 90% of respondents believing Canada is the preferred source of critical minerals and wanting to see support from the government Some steps of this method.
Gratton also stressed that the strategy must be implemented now, and quickly. “MAC looks forward to working with the Government of Canada to help deliver on the promise of the strategy. Speed is important because Canada is not alone in vying for critical mineral opportunities,” Gratton said. “What’s more, there is no waiting to tackle climate change, and without the minerals and metals we need to tackle climate change, we will fail. The challenges before us are enormous, but this strategy puts us on the path to success .”
The mining industry is an important sector of the Canadian economy, contributing $125 billion to the gross national product and accounting for 22% of Canada’s total domestic exports. Canada’s mining industry directly and indirectly employs 665,000 people across the country. The industry is proportionally the largest private sector employer of Aboriginal people in Canada and a major customer of Aboriginal-owned businesses.
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The Canadian Mining Association is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for the majority of Canada’s production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, mined oil sands and industrial minerals, and are active in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-processing