Manitoba ‘has what the world needs,’ minister says as he outlines new strategy for critical minerals

Manitoba has what the world needs when it comes to the crucial mineral sector, and the province’s new strategy aims to accelerate projects while involving Indigenous communities, the provincial government says.

The Manitoba government unveiled its new Critical Minerals Strategy Monday morning, and the 20-page document: Securing our crucial mineral futureincludes 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, as he spoke 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 kind of strategy even more important.”

Manitoba is home to 30 of the 34 minerals on Canada’s 2024 Critical Minerals List, according to the province’s Critical Minerals Strategy. The strategy highlights nine minerals it says are critical to Manitoba, including cobalt, copper, lithium and graphite.

The province will open a single-desk concierge service to “shorten project timelines and accelerate project deployment,” according to the critical mineral strategy.

“It will be operational within this month and we will also continue to actively recruit people,” Moses said while speaking to reporters after his speech.

That part of the strategy was welcomed by the Mining Association of Manitoba.

“There may be delays in the processes or you may be applying for multiple permits from different offices,” says association president Stacey Kennedy. “However, with this one-stop-shop concierge, you can go in and have everything at once.”

Strategy focuses 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, ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities and early notification of proposed mineral activities.

The Critical Mineral Strategy also says a mining advisory board with “broad Indigenous representation to guide implementation” will be established.

The province says the strategy will also develop a revenue-sharing model for mining in partnership with Indigenous nations, while working with federal partners to increase Indigenous participation in mining and related economic development projects such as capacity building and workforce training to support.

Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon Blueksy said resource extraction in First Nations can be a “controversial and sensitive” topic. Bluesky says he has long been pushing for a reset among Indigenous communities when it comes to mining.

“Our First Nations people right now – and I will speak specifically about my First Nation – are living alone with the consequences of development, living alone with the consequences of resource development in our areas,” 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 companies and businesses that are currently operating in my territory.”

Bluesky said he wanted to make it clear that everyone in the mining sector, along with 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 together (and) making an agreement with the treaty people of the area,” he said.

Eyes on American elections

Moses also has his eye on Tuesday’s U.S. election, saying that regardless of the outcome, Manitoba will work with “whoever is in the White House” to ensure they know the province is “a trusted partner for investments can be’.

“I think we want to continue to have positive relationships both at the national and state level,” he said.

And John Morris, co-director of the Mining Association of Manitoba, said the province will continue to export to the US

“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 involve us in purchasing, bring your checkbooks.”