Canada Invests in Critical Minerals Sector at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Conference on Mining in Sudbury

On October 9, 2024, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced over $5.1 million in funding for 16 projects in the critical minerals sector as part of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (CCMS). Funding has been made available across two programs: the Critical Minerals Geoscience Data Initiative and the Global Partnerships Initiative.

Critical Minerals Geoscience Data (CMGD) Initiative

The CMGD initiative aims to strengthen Canadian critical minerals supply chains and support sustainable development of six priority minerals that are essential to key industries and national security (e.g., batteries, energy, defence, infrastructure). The CMGD initiative provides funding to advance the availability of valuable data and insights on the location, quality and economic feasibility of critical minerals resources.

The CMGD initiative is dedicated to unlocking the sustainable development of Canada’s critical minerals resources by providing essential knowledge and data to support informed decision-making. This is achieved through funding initiatives that help advance the availability of valuable data and insights on the location, quality and economic feasibility of critical minerals resources. By harnessing the power of geoscience and data, we are paving the way for the responsible growth of industries reliant on these minerals, from technology and energy to defence and infrastructure. Over $4.1 million is provided under the CMGD to support the following ten projects:

Analysis of Archived Till Samples for Lithium and Other Critical Elements in Southwestern and West-Central New Brunswick

Recipient: New Brunswick Geological Survey

Funding from CMGD: $108,300

Project Summary: This project will measure lithium and other critical minerals in sediments deposited by glaciers to examine the soil (till) landscape of New Brunswick. By making these data public, this project will contribute to public geoscience and may increase the attractiveness of the province for new exploration investment.

Extreme Fractionation of Late Silurian–Early Devonian Peralkaline Intrusions in the Northern Appalachians: Evaluation of HREE-Y resource petrogenesis

Recipient: New Brunswick Geological Survey

Funding from CMGD: $155,000

Project Summary: This project will investigate the spatial and temporal relationships between different types of rare earth elements deposits and their surrounding terranes by mapping the deposits and using high-precision geochemistry methods to calculate the ages of different components of deposits to understand how they form.

Critical Metal Potential of the Selwyn Sedimentary Basin: Primary and Secondary Geological and Geochemical Controls on Zinc and Vanadium Enrichment in Black Shales

Recipient: Government of Northwest Territories

Funding from CMGD: $399,797

Project Summary: This project seeks to identify the factors that lead to enrichment of zinc and vanadium in the Selwyn Basin and to develop an improved mineral system model for zinc and vanadium mineralization in black shales.

Evaluating Drainage Sediments for Carbonatite-Hosted Critical Indicator Minerals

Recipient: British Columbia Geological Survey

Funding from CMGD: $495,000

Project Summary: This project aims to reduce the risk and cost of critical mineral exploration in B.C. by evaluating the potential for minerals collected from streams draining economically viable deposits of niobium, rare earth elements and other critical minerals to be used as “indicator minerals.”

Rare-Metals Pegmatites of the Slave Geological Province: A petrogenic re-examination with exploration implications

Recipient: Government of Northwest Territories

Funding from CMGD: $497,925

Project Summary: This project will de-risk investment decisions and increase Canada’s competitiveness with new, public geoscience data on critical minerals in the Slave Geological Province, N.W.T., to enable researchers and explorationists to model the formation and critical mineral potential in this area.

Geoscience Data Repository (Data Lake) for the Canadian Cordillera

Recipient: British Columbia Geological Survey

Funding from CMGD: $500,000

Project Summary: This project will develop a new database historical data held by the BC Geological Survey and the Yukon Geological Survey to enable mineral potential modelling of critical mineral-bearing systems and improve our understanding of the critical mineral potential across these jurisdictions.

Assessment Report-Sources Drillhole Database

Recipient: British Columbia Geological Survey

Funding from CMGD: $500,000

Project Summary: This project will support critical mineral potential modelling and exploration across B.C. with a new, province-wide drillhole database by digitizing information from mineral exploration and mining industry assessment reports.

Intrusive History of the Cordilleran Orogen

Recipient: British Columbia Geological Survey

Funding from CMGD: $483,300

Project Summary: This project will triple the amount of modern, high-precision age data available to the public for certain rocks associated with critical minerals and enable better modelling of critical mineral potential of these intrusive rocks in B.C.

Airborne Geophysical Survey to Target Rare Earth Mineralization in Southeastern Labrador
Recipient: Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador

Funding from CMGD: $500,000

Project Summary: This project will provide public geoscience data to develop improved models for rare earth elements deposit formation, reduce risk for public- and private-sector investment decisions and facilitate decision-making for the exploration and sustainable development of mineral resources.

Nain Plutonic Suite Airborne Geophysics
Recipient: Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador

Funding from CMGD: $500,000

Project Summary: This project will generate new public geoscience data that will enhance our understanding of the geologic evolution of Northern Labrador and its potential to host critical minerals (e.g., cobalt, copper, nickel, rare earth elements).

Global Partnerships Initiative (GPI)

As global demand for critical minerals increases, Canada continues to support value-added economic opportunities with like-minded partners and enhance its international leadership in critical minerals, including through a growing number of bilateral commitments and engagements without compromising its ability to deliver on domestically focused initiatives and priorities. The GPI is a key mechanism under the CCMS through which Canada provides this support for initiatives to advance Canada’s global leadership on critical minerals under the CCMS. Close to $1 million is provided under the GPI to support the following six projects:

Enabling Canadian Critical Mineral Supply Chain Transparency and Traceability at Scale

Recipient: Quartech Systems Ltd.

Funding from GPI: $55,000

Project Summary: In collaboration with British Columbia’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, this project will enhance the interoperability of a commercial-stage application of open-source technology to enable critical minerals supply chain traceability and create meaningful global climate action and environmental protection.

Uranium Traceability and ESG Labeling in Value Chains

Recipient: Aisimpro Inc.

Funding from GPI: $123,750 

Project Summary: This project aims to develop and implement a blockchain powered system for critical mineral traceability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures in mining, with a specific focus on the uranium value chain. 

Mimosi-One: Online Regulatory Sandbox for Promoting Adoption of Digital Traceability and Transparency Platforms in the Critical Minerals Sector

Recipient: Peer Ledger Inc.

Funding from GPI: $165,300  

Project Summary: This project will offer an online regulatory technology sandbox to support up to 20 critical sector companies and their supply chains to deploy digital circular value chains. 

Transparent Canadian Battery Supply Chain GHG and ESG Performance

Recipient: Optel Group (Optel Vision Inc.)

Funding from GPI: $165,300

Project Summary: This project will establish the preliminary greenhouse gases and ESG performance of a Canadian nickel-manganese-cobalt battery supply chain in a transparent and traceable manner. 

Enhancing Supply Chain Traceability With Digital TSM Credentials

Recipient: Northern Block Inc

Funding from GPI: $165,300 

Project Summary: This project seeks to transform the Canadian critical minerals industry by improving the availability and value of Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) data, utilizing Northern Block’s critical-mineral–focused technology solutions in partnership with the Mining Association of Canada. It aims to streamline and digitize the reporting process, convert reports into secure digital credentials, support ESG standards and facilitate informed decision-making in various sectors.

Disbursement of Voluntary Contribution to International Energy Association Critical Minerals Working Party

Recipient: International Energy Association

Funding from GPI: $325,000

Project Summary: Under the IEA Standing Group on Long-Term Cooperation, a Critical Minerals Working Party (CMWP) was set up to guide the development of a critical minerals program of work, which will lead to concrete proposals at the IEA Ministerial in February 2024. Within the CMWP, and in alignment with Canada’s Critical Mineral Strategy, a key focus is on improving the performance of international critical mineral supply chains in terms of ESG standards and metrics.