Associations Energy & Mining Industry September 2024

Ministry of Investment, Trade and Natural Resources – Manitoba, Canada

October 11, 2024

Ministry of Investment, Trade and Natural Resources

Exploring the Depths of a Rich Province

A ‘goldmine’ of opportunity

As a global hub for mineral exploration and development, Manitoba has so much opportunity when it comes to critical minerals. With 30 of 34 critical minerals on Canada’s critical mineral list, countries around the world are seeking supply, and a trusted trade partner like our province. With our central location, strategically connected infrastructure, and robust manufacturing sector – we are well positioned to support our trade partners and expand Manitoba’s economy and the North American market.

With over a hundred years of experience in mining, the increasing global interest in Manitoba’s world-class minerals is evident with $197.8 million in industry exploration spending in 2023. Our thriving mineral industry, dynamic communities, mining expertise, and critical mineral commodities are the key ingredients for what the world needs to advance the green economy. Not only does it benefit our economy, but the mining industry employs a vast array of skilled trades, providing good jobs for people across our province.

PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS MANITOBA

As we continue to expand opportunities in all areas of Manitoba, one significant area of focus for our government is developing meaningful relationships with First Nations and Métis peoples to ensure their involvement and close collaboration on any development projects. Our government believes that responsible mineral development must include Indigenous participation and economic reconciliation as key components, early in the process.

Many nations have developed relationships with exploration companies, and our government is pleased to facilitate engagement for these opportunities. Consultation and reconciliation is a central component of natural resource management and planning. My department works to facilitate the co-development of consultation protocols, shared management and revenue sharing for Manitoba’s natural resources. The department continues to sign consultation protocols with various nations across Manitoba that outline how they would like to be included and engaged with on natural resource projects.

One example of from this past February at the National Prospectors and Developers Conference in Toronto involved the Northlands Dënesųłiné First Nation who signed an agreement that renews the consultation protocol surrounding mineral exploration in the Indigenous nation’s traditional territory. This protocol is indicative of the cooperation and respect our government strives to have with all Indigenous nations and communities.

Throughout different projects, staff engage with all 63 First Nations and the Manitoba Métis Federation through the full life cycle of each project. They are dedicated to not just meeting legal duties but focusing on long-term relationship building and meaningful engagement done mindfully. Their work strives to foster Indigenous inclusion and economic reconciliation that puts people in local communities to work with good jobs.

Working with First Nations reduces risk and speeds up projects. By honouring economic reconciliation through meaningful consultation and engagement, and providing funding to key mining projects, our government is moving towards a mineral development future that benefits all Manitobans.

MORE THAN JUST A PRAIRIE PROVINCE

Manitoba boasts incredibly rich mineral development opportunities and has climbed to sixth place globally on The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies’ Investment Attractiveness Index. We are proud that our flourishing minerals sector presents many opportunities to spur economic growth and domestic supply and continues to position Manitoba as a leader on the world stage.

Manitoba is the right place to develop critical minerals because we boast some incredible trade hubs like CentrePort, North America’s largest tri-modal inland port, which has direct rail shipping to the BNSF Railway line and key American markets. Manitoba is also the home of North America’s only deep-sea arctic port at the Port of Churchill, in which our government recently made a $30M investment in. Making Manitoba a maritime province adds to our advantage by shortening trade routes for customers around the globe.

Our province also has great geology. Currently there are many minerals actively being developed like zinc, copper, nickel, gold, lithium, cobalt, potash, and silica. This brings international investment, and good jobs to local residents in communities all over the province.

As we look ahead at the opportunities ahead of us, Manitoba is committed to empowering the Northern region in ways that create an economic benefit for communities. We are focused on strengthening domestic supply chain networks, attracting investment, and working with First Nations and Métis peoples on a government-to-government basis to promote Indigenous economic prosperity and participation in this sector.

CLEAN GREEN DEVELOPMENT

While we will continue to build meaningful relationships with communities, we will also live up to our environmental commitments. Critical mineral development is a key to a net-zero future. Powered by 98% clean based-load power renewable energy from Manitoba Hydro, the expansion of this sector will ensure our province is at the forefront of the low-carbon economy. All told, Manitoba offers the ability to produce critical mineral resources with stronger labor standards, better environmental impacts, and greater respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples.

A recent example of this work is our government’s commitment to moving forward with a silica sand extraction project in Hollow Water First Nation and a solar glass manufacturing facility in Selkirk, which will create good jobs and advance Manitoba as a leader in clean energy. Projects like this one bring in millions of dollars in investments into the community, create hundreds of local jobs, and generate huge local economic activity each year. This project is part of our government’s priority in growing critical mineral development and will bring a significant economic benefit to Manitoba while growing our low-carbon economy.

A NEW STRATEGY

Our team is working towards a new critical minerals strategy that fully represents the people of our province and the opportunities we have here. As the backbone of many northern communities, we plan to grow this industry in a sustainable way that creates long-term economic growth. It is an immediate priority for our government to create a real critical minerals strategy that creates good jobs and economic growth in northern and rural Manitoba while building a low carbon future. To support this work, the Manitoba government has also recently undertaken the first phase of public engagement to inform the new critical minerals strategy.

Areas in Manitoba with critical mineral potential frequently intersect with Indigenous traditional land-use areas, which have significant cultural and spiritual value to these communities. Indigenous communities and governments must be meaningfully consulted on resource development activities like mining, exploration and infrastructure development and asked to provide input so our government can build a critical minerals strategy that truly works for everybody.

The new critical minerals strategy aims to establish a supply chain and develop additional partnerships with mining companies and Indigenous communities. The strategy will promote sustainable practices that minimize environmental and wildlife impacts, enhance Indigenous participation, and support a clean, green energy transition. The strategy will be released later this year.

The progress of the mineral development sector in Manitoba is exciting. This means more investments in our province, stronger local communities, and more good jobs for Manitobans. We will continue to work hard to ensure everyone knows that by working together, Manitoba is on the road to success.