Feds' critical mineral strategy opens 'window of opportunity' for B.C. mining

"Simply put, there is no energy transition without critical minerals." — Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of Natural Resources

The federal government’s just-announced critical minerals strategy opens “a window of opportunity” for B.C., which is already Canada’s top copper producer and holds promising reserves of nickel and rare-earth metals, says the B.C. mining association.

“(The strategy) hold’s potential in the near term to help facilitate and expedite the current regulatory processes for development projects in British Columbia,” said Michael Goering, CEO of the Mining Association of B.C.

Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson unveiled the strategy in Vancouver on Friday, which is aimed at streamlining mine approvals for so-called ‘critical minerals,’ such as copper, nickel, lithium and rare-earth elements, and supporting development of mineral processing infrastructure.

Those are a few key minerals where demand is expected to skyrocket by 500 per cent by 2050, and Canada has an abundance of, Wilkinson said.

“Simply put, there is no energy transition without critical minerals,” Wilkinson said.

And against that backdrop, “it cannot take us 12 to 15 years to open a new mine in this country, not if we want to achieve our climate goals and move rapidly through the energy transition.”

To help expedite timelines, Wilkinson said Canada will work with the provinces to harmonize environmental assessments, which is something B.C. already does with Ottawa with a substitution deal on such approvals, allowing the province to provide a single assessment for major mines.

Wilkinson said government will also “accelerate processes and timelines under existing regulatory regimes,” through a “concierge service,” that Natural Resources Canada will establish in a critical minerals centre for excellence.

And Wilkinson added Canada will do so by respecting Indigenous rights, ensuring First Nations have the resources to meaningfully participate in environmental assessments and decision-making along with revenue-sharing as a means of “economic reconciliation.”

Goering said bolstering Indigenous participation, particularly in building capacity for First Nations to evaluate and participate in projects, will be important for B.C.

The mining industry has advocated for better supports for First Nations when it comes to building the technical and administrative capacity, “so they can participate and benefit from critical minerals projects,” Goering said. “It’s time.”

The CEO of a B.C. mineral exploration firm called that “fundamental” to moving projects forward.

“These projects are happening in their territory (and) they deserve to have the appropriate capacity and resources to properly evaluate these projects and we definitely applaud that,” said Martin Turrene, CEO of FPX Nickel Corp., which is probing a potential nickel deposit 90 kilometres northwest of Fort St. James.

And agreements and partnerships developed with First Nations under the strategy’s priorities “must be done well,” said Sharleen Gale, chairwoman of the First Nations’ Major Projects Coalition and chief councillor of the Fort Nelson First Nation.

“We know that this energy transition needs increased supply of critical battery minerals to make it possible,” Gale said. “And in Canada, which is a signatory of the United Nations Declarations of Rights of Indigenous People, that means every new mine and every new processing facility must include meaningful partnerships with impacted Indigenous Nations.”

Newly installed B.C. Energy and Mines Minister Josie Osborne wasn’t available for an interview but in an emailed statement said the province is already working on a B.C. strategy to complement the federal direction on critical minerals.

The mandate letter Premier David Eby delivered to Osborne called on the new minister to launch a “mining innovation hub and expedited a provincial critical minerals strategy” to capitalize on the emerging clean-energy economy.

“We are encouraged to see the federal strategy reflect many B.C. priorities like clean growth, reconciliation with First Nations and innovation,” Osborne said in the emailed statement.

Goering, however, said speeding up mine approvals is essential, which he vowed doesn’t need to mean “cutting corners” on environmental protection.

“We can build a mine, from planning to construction, in three to four years,” Goering said. “Surely you can review, permit, modify and accommodate Indigenous communities or partners in less than 10 years.”

depenner@postmedia.com

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