Introducing Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy

Critical minerals are essential for a green and digital economy. As we move towards a zero-emission future, global demand for these minerals and their products will continue to increase significantly. Canada is ready to help meet the demand due to its many critical minerals sources, its technological know-how and its strong environmental record.

The Government of Canada released the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy in December 2022, setting out a course for Canada to become a global supplier of choice for responsibly sourced critical minerals and the clean and digital technologies they enable.

About the Critical Minerals Strategy

The Strategy was developed following extensive engagement with industry, academia, Indigenous groups and other governments, including provinces and territories. The result is a comprehensive initiative that is built around the following core objectives:

Supporting economic growth, competitiveness and job creation 

• Growing Canada’s economic resiliency by reducing its dependency on other countries for inputs and manufactured goods
• Sustaining and enhancing economic growth
• Developing, expanding and integrating Canadian value chains
• Increasing supply among trusted partners
• Creating high quality and paying jobs for Canadians

Promoting climate action and environmental protection

• Upholding nature and biodiversity-related commitments and standards
• Supporting the development of innovative technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, recycling and reusing end-of-life products
• Incorporating Indigenous knowledge into sustainable critical minerals development

Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

• Respecting Aboriginal and treaty rights through early, meaningful and ongoing engagement with Indigenous Peoples
• Advancing economic reconciliation by increasing Indigenous participation in jobs, businesses and ownership of mining
• Enabling infrastructure projects
• Sharing direct benefits from responsible critical minerals development

Fostering diverse and inclusive workforces and communities

• Upholding human rights through expectations for responsible business conduct and due diligence throughout the supply chain
• Providing professional training opportunities to sustain high paying jobs
• Enhancing diversity and inclusion in the workforce, particularly for women, youth, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Indigenous Peoples, recent immigrants, Black and racialized communities, and persons with disabilities

Enhancing global security and partnerships with allies

• Advancing cooperation agreements to protect critical minerals supply chains among trading partners
• Attracting foreign direct investment while protecting Canadian assets
• Strengthening Canada’s position as a global leader in environmental, social and governance frameworks, including the protection of Indigenous rights.

Partnerships

Building Canadian-based critical minerals value chains is a long-term, multi-stakeholder objective that requires full cooperation with industry, provincial, territorial, Indigenous and international partners. Our strategic partnerships inform the Government of Canada’s incremental approach to critical minerals development.

Learn more about our strategic partnerships