Manitoba has what the world needs when it comes to the critical mineral sector, and the province’s new strategy aims to speed up projects while also getting Indigenous communities involved, the provincial government says.
The Manitoba government unveiled its new critical mineral strategy Monday morning, and the 20-page document, Securing Our Critical Mineral Future, includes the province’s plans to streamline projects and focus on Indigenous partnerships and economic reconciliation for long-term prosperity.
“Manitoba has what the world needs,” said Jamie Moses, Manitoba’s minister of economic development, investment and trade while speaking to a crowd at the Central Canada Mineral Exploration Convention. “We know that securing our critical mineral supply chain, especially as we expect demand to double by 2040, makes having this type of strategy even more important.”
Manitoba is home to 30 of the 34 minerals on Canada’s 2024 critical mineral list, according to the province’s critical mineral strategy. The strategy highlights nine minerals it calls key to Manitoba, including cobalt, copper, lithium and graphite.
The province will open a single-desk concierge service to “shorten project timelines and stand up projects faster,” according to the critical mineral strategy.
“Within this month it will be up and running and we’re continuing to actively hire for some folks there as well,” Moses said while speaking with reporters following his speech.
That part of the strategy was welcomed by the Mining Association of Manitoba.
“There can be delays in processes or you’re pursuing multiple permits from different offices,” said association president Stacey Kennedy. “However, having this one stop shop concierge like a triage-type atmosphere, you can go in and have everything in one fell swoop.”
Strategy has a focus on economic reconciliation
Another pillar of the strategy focuses on Indigenous partnerships and economic reconciliation for long-term prosperity.
Key actions in this part of the strategy include ensuring meaningful, continuing engagement with Indigenous communities and early notification of proposed mineral activity.
The critical mineral strategy also says that a mining advisory council with “broad Indigenous representation to guide implementation” will be established.
The province also says in the strategy it will develop a revenue sharing model for mining in collaboration with Indigenous nations, while working with federal partners to support Indigenous participation in mining and associated economic development projects such as capacity building and workforce training.
Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon Blueksy, said resource extraction in First Nations can be a “contentious, touchy” subject. Bluesky says he’s long pushed for a reset with Indigenous communities when it comes to mining.
“Our First Nations people currently — and I’ll speak specifically on my First Nation — only live with impacts of development, only live with the impacts of resource development in our territories,” he said. “For Brokenhead, we have zero agreements … we have zero agreements with our government and we have zero agreements with the proponents and the businesses and the corporations that are operating within my territory right now.”
Bluesky said he wanted to make clear that everyone in the mining sector along with the government has a role to play in “making things right” with First Nations.
“I think that’s the most important thing when we talk about reconciliation … actually coming [to] sit together, [and] make an agreement with the treaty people of the territory,” he said.
Eyes on U.S. election
Moses also has his eye on Tuesday’s U.S. election and said no matter the result, Manitoba will work with “whoever is in the White House” to make sure they know the province can “be a trusted partner for investment.”
“I think what we want to do is continue to have positive relationships both on the national and state-by-state level,” he said.
And John Morris, co-director of the Mining Association of Manitoba said the province will continue to export to the U.S.
“The United States is very interested in what Manitoba has, so regardless of what happens in the election tomorrow Manitoba is open for business and if the United States wants to engage us in some purchases, bring your chequebooks.”