Ministers Ng and Champagne attended 2024 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada annual convention
News release
March 4, 2024 - Toronto, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry attended the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual convention in Toronto, Ontario, where they met with key Canadian and international mining sector representatives.
Kirsten Hillman, Ambassador of Canada to the United States, joined the ministers to promote the Team Canada engagement strategy with the United States.
Canada and the United States are each others’ top foreign supplier of energy, creating good jobs and growing economies on both sides of the border.
While at the PDAC convention, Minister Ng met with senior mining industry representatives, including from the Mining Association of Canada, to discuss critical mineral supply chains; environmental, social and governance leadership; responsible business conduct; and diversity and inclusion in the Canadian mining sector.
Minister Ng also spoke with Alberto Otárola Peñaranda, Prime Minister of Peru, and José Arista, Peru’s newly appointed minister of economy and finance. Together, they exchanged views on progress in bilateral trade under the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement and the possibility of expanding collaboration in critical minerals and sustainable mining.
Minister Champagne discussed new decarbonization opportunities with Jakob Stausholm, CEO of Rio Tinto, and met with Ranj Pillai, Premier of Yukon, to discuss developing critical minerals and international collaborations.
Minister Champagne also met with senior representatives of the United Kingdom’s critical minerals sector to talk about how their countries could work more closely together on supply chain resiliency.
Following the signature of a Joint Statement of Cooperation on promoting shared priorities related to critical minerals between Canada and Australia by Minister Wilkinson early today, Ministers Ng and Champagne concluded their visit to PDAC by meeting with Madeleine King, Australian Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia. They discussed the growing partnership between Canada and Australia in the critical minerals, electric vehicle and clean technology sectors.
Quotes
“Canada is a global leader in responsible and sustainable mining. Every year, the world comes to PDAC for the opportunity to exchange ideas with us and share best practices. Canada is proud to be a leader in critical minerals and the green economy of the future.”
- Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
“Critical minerals are a generational economic opportunity for Canada, helping to power the green transition and technologies in everything from cell phones to car batteries, to satellite systems. As a green supplier of choice, Canada will continue to work with like-minded partners around the world to help strengthen and secure critical minerals supply chains.”
- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Canada is a secure and reliable supplier of critical minerals and processed material to highly integrated North American supply chains. I was pleased to have the opportunity at PDAC to meet with those who are working hard every day to ensure that Canada remains a partner of choice, leading to a cleaner, more energy-secure future.”
- Kirsten Hillman, Ambassador of Canada to the United States
Quick facts
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The PDAC annual convention is the world’s largest and most important international mining industry gathering, attracting approximately 30,000 people from 130 countries each year.
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In December 2022, the Government of Canada launched the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to build a Canadian industrial ecosystem in which all stages of the value chain are developed and integrated domestically and with trading partners.
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In 2021, the value of Canada’s mineral production reached $55.5 billion. That year, Canada produced approximately 60 minerals and metals at about 200 mines and 6,500 sand and gravel pits and stone quarries.
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In 2022, minerals and metals sector exports accounted for 21% of Canada’s total merchandise exports—with 52% of mineral commodities exported to the United States.
Associated links
Contacts
Shanti Cosentino
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
343-576-4365
Shanti.Cosentino@international.gc.ca
Audrey Champoux
Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
Audrey.Champoux@ised-isde.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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