Published: March 27, 2026 |

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The federal government says Canada is moving to expand its mining sector and strengthen global supply chains through new investments, partnerships, and policy initiatives announced at a major international mining conference.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson made the announcements during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto, one of the world’s largest gatherings of the mining industry.

Federal officials said Canada is positioning itself as a reliable supplier of critical minerals needed for defense technologies, clean energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.

NEW FUNDS AND INVESTMENTS AIMED AT BOOSTING MINING SECTOR

Among the announcements was the launch of a $1.1 billion (CAD$1.5 billion) First and Last Mile Fund aimed at helping mining projects address infrastructure challenges between extraction sites and processing facilities.

Hodgson also highlighted plans for a $1.475 billion (CAD$2 billion) Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund designed to support development across the mining value chain.

The government announced up to $122 million (CAD$165.2 million) in funding for 22 Canadian mining projects. Officials say the investment is expected to help unlock more than $320 million (CAD$434 million) in project capital.

That funding includes up to $84.7 million (CAD$114.9 million) for the first five projects supported through the First and Last Mile Fund.

The projects include initiatives related to infrastructure development, research, sustainability, geoscience and partnerships with Indigenous communities.

“Canada has been a mining nation for generations — and we are back in a big way,” Hodgson said in a statement.

CRITICAL MINERALS PARTNERSHIPS EXPAND WITH INTERNATIONAL ALLIES

At the conference, the minister also announced the second round of partnerships under the Critical Minerals Production Alliance.

Thirty new partnerships and investments are expected to unlock more than $9 billion (CAD$12.1 billion) in critical mineral projects involving 12 allied countries.

Combined with earlier announcements in 2025, the alliance is now helping mobilize about $13.6 billion (CAD$18.5 billion) in Canadian critical mineral development.

Officials say the initiative aims to diversify mineral supply chains and reduce reliance on concentrated global sources of key materials.

Hodgson also met with representatives from several countries and international organizations, including the European Commission, Greenland, Norway, and Argentina, to discuss investment opportunities and co-operation on mineral development.

FOCUS ON INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND DATA ACCESS

The government also announced up to $29.5 million (CAD$40 million) for the Canadian Digital Core Library, a project designed to make geological drill core data more widely accessible to researchers and industry.

Officials say the initiative could help accelerate mineral discoveries and improve investment readiness across Canada’s mining sector.

The project will explore partnerships with several mining companies and academic institutions to develop a digital library containing geological core samples from governments and the private sector.

The federal government also launched a new online Mine Permit Navigator, designed to help companies understand federal approval requirements and speed up project development timelines.

MINING SECTOR KEY TO CANADA’S ECONOMY

Natural Resources Canada says the country’s minerals and metals sector remains a major economic driver.

The industry directly employed about 438,000 people in 2024 and supported an additional 286,000 jobs indirectly.

According to federal figures, average annual compensation in the mining sector was about $107,500 (CAD$146,000), nearly double the national average across all industries.

This year’s PDAC convention attracted more than 27,000 attendees from over 135 countries.

Source: West Central Online

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