The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has released a new national poll, highlighting public enthusiasm for Canada to grow its market share as a preferred global supplier of critical minerals.
There is increasing focus on critical minerals — vital in aerospace, defence, telecommunications, computing, and in clean technologies such as solar panels and electric car batteries.
China has been a major supplier
of these minerals but Canada has an opportunity to play a larger role in this
marketplace, MAC said.
“Canadians support growing our market share as a preferred global supplier of critical minerals, products and technologies that are essential to building a net-zero economy,” said the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources in a media release.
Almost 90% of those surveyed for
MAC by Abacus Data like the idea of Canada being a preferred source for
critical minerals and would like to see government take a number of steps to
support this approach:
- 88% want to see Canada increase its
role in producing critical minerals for world markets. - 86% want to encourage international
investment into Canadian critical minerals and metals companies that are
sustainability leaders. - 83% want to encourage Canadian
production of critical minerals so Canada can compete with China. - 81% want to promote interest in
Canadian critical minerals by drawing attention to Canada’s high standards of
sustainability.
“Canada is a top-five country in global production of 15 minerals and metals, including cobalt, copper, precious metals, nickel, uranium. We have the potential to expand in lithium, magnesium and rare earths,” said Pierre Gratton, MAC President and CEO.
Recently, Canada and the US finalized a Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration which will attract greater investment in Canadian mining projects and advance the mutual interest in securing supply chains for the critical minerals needed for important manufacturing sectors, MAC said.