Canada and United States Co-Invest to Unlock Critical Minerals Development in Yukon

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 13, 2024 /CNW/ – The development of secure, sustainable North American supply chains requires close collaboration among like-minded partners. That is why Canada and the United States are strategically co-investing in important critical minerals projects in Canada and working to strengthen our supply chains. We are accelerating projects that will develop the critical minerals essential for continental and economic security, as well as for our clean energy future.

Critical minerals are essential components in products used for defence, advanced manufacturing and clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, electrical transmission lines and batteries. Canada’s mining sector provides many of the building blocks needed for these strategic sectors, including tungsten, gallium, germanium and zinc.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a co-investment with the United States in the Canadian mining company Fireweed Metals Corp. (Fireweed). Fireweed will receive up to CA$12.9 million (approximately US$9.2 million) from Natural Resources Canada for its North Canol Infrastructure Improvement Project, pending final due diligence, for pre-development activities by the company such as design, studies and collection of baseline data, as well as engagement and consultations with First Nations. These pre-development activities will focus on improvements of approximately 250 kilometres of road, upgrades to an existing transmission line between Faro and Ross River, and the construction of a new transmission line from Ross River to the Macmillan Pass site. This infrastructure will be key to the development of Fireweed’s Critical minerals projects in eastern Yukon.

These funds will be joined by a US$15.8-million (approximately CA$22.1 million) co-investment from the United States to advance test work, feasibility studies and other preconstruction activities at the Mactung mine project, which is expected to benefit from the Canadian-supported infrastructure improvements.

Canada is providing this conditional funding to Fireweed through the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund’s (CMIF) pre-construction stream. The CMIF is a key program under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy to address infrastructure gaps, enable critical minerals production and connect resources to markets through various clean energy, electrification and transportation infrastructure projects. The co-investment from the United States is provided by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Defense Production Act Purchases Office.

This announcement is a concrete example of the close bilateral collaboration under the Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration and the Canada-U.S. Energy Transformation Task Force. Co-investment in Canadian projects of strategic importance, like Fireweed’s, supports the United States and Canada’s shared vision of strong, sustainable North American critical mineral supply chains.

Quotes

“Canada is positioning itself as a global supplier of responsibly sourced critical minerals, which are increasingly in demand for the clean and digital economy as well as for defence applications. Our investment in the Fireweed project will develop the necessary energy infrastructure to power multiple critical minerals mines and communities with clean energy. These investments by Canada and the United States build on our long history of friendship and collaboration, complement the region’s deep expertise in mining, create good jobs in the Yukon and advance economic growth, now and into the future.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“Canada’s investment is key to building the transportation infrastructure needed for the Yukon’s critical minerals sector. By supporting foundational work to upgrade access roads to critical mineral mining sites, we’re strengthening our supply chains for clean energy technologies, creating good jobs and economic growth.”

The Honourable Anita Anand

President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport of Canada

“Tungsten is essential to the national security of both the United States and Canada. This project highlights the interconnected nature of our countries’ defense industrial bases, especially when it comes to critical minerals. We look forward to more opportunities to partner with Canada to support projects that strengthen our mutual security.”

Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, United States Department of Defense

“These U.S. and Canadian co-investments will support unlocking a new critical minerals district in Canada. In the coming months and years, our team will work to ensure our project and the enabling infrastructure move forward in a way that respects rights-holders, provides benefits to communities in the region and demonstrates how critical minerals can be developed responsibly.”

Peter Hemstead,

Director, President and CEO, Fireweed Metals Corp.

Quick Facts

The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, supported by an investment of $3.8 billion, aims to advance the development of critical minerals and related value chains to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy and support advanced technology and manufacturing. The Strategy addresses five core objectives:
- supporting economic growth, competitiveness and job creation;
- promoting climate action and strong environmental management;
- enhancing global security and partnerships with allies;
- advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; and
- fostering diverse and inclusive workforces and communities.
Over the last few years, Canada has made landmark investments across a range of critical mineral and zero-emission-vehicle supply chain projects in Canada. Canada is actively providing support across the industry under the Strategy to address barriers through funding and collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous groups, mining companies and other Canadian and international partners.
The CMIF is a key program under the Strategy to support enabling clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects necessary to increase Canada’s supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals. The CMIF supports strategic priorities, such as decarbonizing industrial mining operations; strengthening supply chains through transportation infrastructure; and advancing economic reconciliation by supporting the participation of Indigenous Peoples in infrastructure and critical minerals projects.
Announced in January 2020, the Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals advances both countries’ common interest in strengthening North American critical mineral production needed for defence, aerospace, clean energy, communications and other key industries.