Simply possessing the mineral and metal deposits isn’t enough
The Manitoba mining industry received some good news recently, but the province still needs to reform its mining policies for the sector to thrive. Despite some progress over the years, the province continues to have a hostile climate for investment: this needs to change. Vale Ltd. recently announced a $150-million investment to extend nickel mining…
Decoupling will be difficult and costly, but is a necessity
Several factors have induced Western governments and the firms they preside over to find substitute supply chains for the China-dominant ones they depend on. These factors include growing public revulsion at the repressive and persecutory policies the Chinese Communist Party has for its ethnic, religious and other minorities or critics; the increasingly aggressive expansionary moves…
Including diamonds
A new study sheds light on a fundamental mechanism of how Earth’s continental plates heal, with implications for diamond exploration and locating economically important minerals. “Cratons are the oldest stable continental land masses on Earth and are widely known as repositories for diamonds and metals of economic importance,” said Jingao Liu, lead author and visiting…
The province appeals to mining investors because it’s able to match its relatively strong endowment with competitive policies
By Jairo Yunis and Alex Whalen The Fraser Institute As Newfoundland and Labrador deals with the effects of COVID-19 and recession, good news economic stories appear to be in short supply. However, a recent survey of investors sheds light on the province’s mining potential. Mining plays an important role in the province’s economy and the…
Local access is crucial if we are to ensure the long-term viability of our technology sector
The Canadian mining sector has been a vital cog in the country’s economy during the pandemic, with the importance of the industry growing steadily over time. Operations and exploration continued during the COVID-19 outbreak, collaborations with Indigenous communities expanded, technological sophistication accelerated, and, at a time when environmental assessment processes deter investment in Canada, international…
To attract the investment required to develop resources, mitigating the risks of policy uncertainly needs to be a top priority
By Jairo Yunis and Elmira Aliakbari The Fraser Institute The COVID recession has hurt Canada’s natural resources sector, with supply disruptions, commodity price declines and greater uncertainty regarding future demand. Not surprisingly, capital investment in the Canadian mining industry has dropped to its lowest level since 2009. Of course, business investment should be a key…
We need a national mining strategy so Canada can supply the global market with the lithium needed for electric vehicle batteries
Political pundits, politicians and talking heads in the media for the most part spend very little time watching for disruption and innovation in the marketplace. A global consensus has formed that oil as a form of transportation energy should become a stranded asset. Alberta’s vast lithium reserves mean the province can forget about yesterday and…
A three-point plan to ensure Canadians benefit from the market disruption and innovation
The home of hockey, curling, maple syrup and Celine Dion is a nation overflowing with precious metals from coast to coast to coast. Canadian provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, known for oil sands operations, also have an abundance of lithium. Why is this important? The impending global electric vehicle tsunami is about to cause major…
Windy Craggy is a perfect example of how misguided environmental activism is fuelling northern alienation
A World Heritage Site designation continues to prevent development of one of the largest cobalt and copper deposits in North America. That lack of development is denying opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. And it serves as an example of how environmental activism is fuelling northern alienation. Windy Craggy is in northwestern British Columbia, about…
Researchers and employers are teaming up to train the next generation of diamond explorers
The interesting facet in searching for diamonds, according to University of Alberta expert Graham Pearson, is you don’t actually look for diamonds, you look for indicator materials that suggest they might be present. The same could be said for how mineral exploration and mining companies use the U of A to top up their workforce.…