Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy

Critical minerals are essential for a modern economy, and global demand is forecast to increase significantly. Canada is moving decisively to become a global mining and critical minerals leader — not just in what we extract but in how we build, process and deliver value from mine all the way to market.

In 2022, Canada released its foundational Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy — a framework designed to be iterative and adaptive to challenges, opportunities and technological developments.

Our current approach

Since the release of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy in 2022, several factors have shifted the landscape for critical minerals and re-emphasized the importance of critical minerals to Canada’s economic prosperity and national security. Building on the foundational Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy from 2022, Canada’s current approach to critical minerals is being adapted to focus on three main themes:

1. Promoting domestic production and processing of critical minerals in strategic areas: Canada is investing in minerals that are key to clean energy and advanced technology and manufacturing, with an increased emphasis on dual-use minerals integral to commercial and defence value chains.
2. Protecting Canada’s sovereignty and economic resilience by safeguarding critical minerals value chains: Canada is taking action to protect critical mineral value chains and industry from geopolitical threats, unfair market practices, and risks of foreign control.
3. Partnering with Indigenous groups, domestic stakeholders and international allies to develop critical minerals: Canada is partnering with provinces and territories, Indigenous groups, industry and other stakeholders to capitalize on strategic opportunities for critical mineral development while bolstering Canada’s strong reputation for responsible mining.