You could say Manitoba is a real gem in Canada’s mining sector, but selecting lithium might be more appropriate. The province boasts 30 of the 34 critical minerals – including cobalt, copper, graphite, rare earth elements, and lithium – earmarked by the federal government to promote green energy and create the sustainable economic success needed to power the North American low-carbon economy. Released in November, Manitoba’s critical mineral strategy aims to harness the province’s strengths while tackling key challenges, setting the province up to become a global leader in responsible mineral development.
Manitoba is experiencing an exploration boom, with 45 active exploration and development companies focused on critical minerals. However, significant areas with high mineral potential remain under-explored in remote regions and at lower geological depths, presenting ample opportunities for expanding Manitoba’s minerals sector.
“We have what the world needs,” states Jamie Moses, Manitoba’s minister of economic development, investment and trade, in the opening remarks of Securing Our Critical Mineral Future. “With a high standard of Indigenous engagement and environmental regulation, a business-friendly government and a skilled workforce, our province… is well positioned to help companies source the raw materials they need while demonstrating excellence in meeting high environmental, social, and governance standards.”
Moses adds that with demand for critical minerals expected to double by 2040, securing the province’s supply chain through the strategy’s key pillars is even more crucial.
The province hopes to attract the investment needed to fuel critical minerals development by creating a dedicated, single-window Critical Mineral Office, providing a business concierge, streamlining the permitting process, and expediting project timelines. This will provide stakeholders clarity and efficiency to get new projects online faster.
“Timely permitting is a key factor to the certainty of the process the mining sector needs going forward,” says John Morris, co-director of the Mining Association of Manitoba Inc. (MAMI), adding the continuation of the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) will assist with companies being able to secure opportunities to help reach the next level of development.
In November, the Manitoba government announced an additional $2 million in funding through the MMDF to spur immediate economic growth. Administered through the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, the MMDF focuses on initiatives fostering increased Indigenous participation and promoting sustainable economic development throughout the province’s mineral supply chain. In 2023, the MMDF approved a record 25 projects with $5.2 million that supported mineral exploration and innovation, community economic development, and Indigenous enterprise and partnerships.
The strategy underscores a focus on Indigenous partnerships, and economic reconciliation is critical for long-term prosperity. This includes ensuring meaningful, continuing engagement with Indigenous communities, early notification of proposed mineral activity, and establishing a mining advisory council with broad Indigenous representation to guide implementation.
“Indigenous and northern communities can be the backbone to a successful mining sector, setting those communities and the Manitoba economy on the best path forward,” said Northern Relations and Indigenous Economic Development Minister Ian Bushie in a provincial release. “By taking a nation-to-nation approach, this strategy will unlock the benefits of critical minerals for Indigenous nations through healthy resource development. This strategy will ensure Indigenous Peoples’ voices are heard and that they receive fairer financial value within the resource sector in order to advance economic reconciliation.”
The province also states in the strategy that it will develop a revenue-sharing model for mining in collaboration with Indigenous nations and work with federal partners to support Indigenous participation in mining and associated economic development projects, such as capacity building and workforce training.
The Mining Industry Human Resources Council projects that 113,000 new workers will be needed across Canada by 2030 to address new demand and replace those expected to leave the mining workforce. The strategy highlights the importance of training and developing the workforce to meet the needs of the expanding mining sector. By collaborating with educational institutions—such as improving access and training opportunities at the University College of the North’s Northern Manitoba Mining Academy—and implementing relevant training programs, the province seeks to enhance the sustainable, skilled workforce necessary for critical mineral development.
Along with the continued growth of the sector’s skilled workforce, the strategy is strengthened by substantial investment in infrastructure. The province is prioritizing impactful regional projects that make it easier for mining companies to access remote areas and transport minerals to market, including highway upgrades, airport enhancements, and vital improvements to the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill.
The MAMI predicts that strategy elements are likely to be implemented throughout 2025, with the establishment of the mining advisory council anticipated in the coming months.
“As with all strategies, a key part of the action items is the timeline for implementation,” states Morris, adding the MAMI looks forward to engaging with the Manitoba government to ensure these essential next steps are executed efficiently.
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