The federal government in Ottawa is streamlining the permitting process for mines in Canada in order to boost the production of metals that are used in electric vehicles and other energy efficient industries.
The push is part of the federal government’s “Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy” that promotes greater harmonization and collaboration between various levels of government to reduce red tape and speed-up regulatory approvals.
The minerals strategy’s mantra is “one project, one assessment,” according to Natural Resources Canada, which authored the report.
The 58-page strategy builds on a critical minerals’ discussion paper released by the federal government in mid-June of this year, as well as promises by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make Canada a leader in the minerals needed to fuel the transition to a green economy.
Canada has allocated $3.8 billion to implement the new critical minerals strategy over the next eight years.
Canada produces more than 60 minerals and metals, has more than 200 mines, and is home to almost half of the world’s publicly listed mining and minerals exploration companies, according to Natural Resources Canada.
Canada also holds deposits of 31 minerals that will be in high demand as the world shifts to cleaner sources of energy in the coming decades.
