Tausi Insider

Even in nickel, where Canada was a one-time global leader, it holds just 2.1 per cent of reserves, while Indonesia and Australia hold 22 per cent each. Yusuf Ahmad/Reuters Canada is unlikely to benefit much from the explosion in global demand for critical minerals because of a dearth of reserves, according to two Calgary academics, who also argue in favour of cutting red tape to make domestic miners more competitive. “Most of North America’s critical transition minerals will have to come from reserves in South America, Africa and the Caribbean as well as Australia and China,” Philip Bazel, research associate at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, and Jack Mintz, a president’s fellow there, wrote in a report released on Tuesday. “Canada’s participation in the energy transition mining market may hinge on the shape of its regulatory and taxation framework.” Citing worldwide critical minerals reserves data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the authors point out that Canad...

Maurice Moreau, Glencore Canada Environmental Management Systems Lead for Ontario and Quebec, holds nickel samples at the Glencore facility at Quebec Port in Limoilou on Aug. 17. Stephanie Foden/Tausi Insider Ottawa is vowing to cut red tape in the mining sector in an attempt to move large resource projects along faster, after facing intense criticism that Canada risks being left behind in the global scramble to secure critical minerals. In the federal government’s long-awaited critical minerals strategy, unveiled on Friday, Ottawa acknowledged that getting a Canadian mine for the minerals into production can take up to 25 years. That is far slower than other international mining jurisdictions that Canada competes against, such as Australia, in which projects are developed in a fraction of that time. “We recognize that, although responsible regulations are vital, complex regulatory and permitting processes can hinder the economic competitiveness of the sector and increase investment ...

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks during a media availability on legislation to modernize the Investment Canada Act, in Ottawa, on Dec. 7. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press Canadian financial dealmakers are raising the alarm about Ottawa’s proposal to more closely scrutinize national security implications of foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies, warning that such interventions could deter foreign investments and slow impending deals in critical sectors. Last week, Canada announced its biggest overhaul in more than a decade to Investment Canada Act, allowing the government to impose interim conditions to prevent buyers from accessing trade secrets, and to block investments that could compromise national security. Lawyers and industry associations say such conditions could delay and add to the cost of deal making. “There is a concern on how the proposed amendments affect timing of an acquisition,” said Sandy Walker, co-Chair of Competiti...

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks during a media availability on legislation to modernize the Investment Canada Act, in Ottawa, on Dec. 7. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press Canadian financial dealmakers are raising the alarm about Ottawa’s proposal to more closely scrutinize national security implications of foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies, warning that such interventions could deter foreign investments and slow impending deals in critical sectors. Last week, Canada announced its biggest overhaul in more than a decade to Investment Canada Act, allowing the government to impose interim conditions to prevent buyers from accessing trade secrets, and to block investments that could compromise national security. Lawyers and industry associations say such conditions could delay and add to the cost of deal making. “There is a concern on how the proposed amendments affect timing of an acquisition,” said Sandy Walker, co-Chair of Competiti...