Nearly 90% of Canadians support growing critical minerals market share — MAC

MINING.com Editor | May 14, 2020 | 6:00 am Careers Education Canada Rare Earth 
Image courtesy of Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations 

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.

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