The Opportunity is Right Under Our Feet

Certain minerals are so essential to clean energy, aerospace, defence, and communications technologies that governments around the world — including Canada — have designated them as “critical.” That designation signals strategic importance, not just commercial value. BC is home to many on Canada’s list, including copper, nickel, cobalt, niobium, rare earths, zinc, and molybdenum.

BC is Canada’s largest copper producer, its top producer of steelmaking coal, and the second-largest producer of silver. We also host some of the largest untapped nickel and niobium deposits in the world. Critically, our operations meet some of the toughest environmental and safety standards globally — which matters to the countries looking for reliable, responsible suppliers.

BC currently has 17 advanced critical mineral projects in the pipeline. Their development alone could deliver $36 billion in near-term investment, 302,000 person-years of employment, and nearly $11 billion in tax revenues. The long-term economic impact of operating these mines over decades could reach $800 billion.

Mining is one of the largest sources of economic activity in many Indigenous territories across BC. Forty-six First Nations have received a combined $98 million in mineral tax revenue sharing to date. BC mines purchased $265 million in goods and services from 120 Indigenous-affiliated suppliers in 2018 alone. Expanding critical minerals development — done right — is one of the most tangible paths to Indigenous economic participation and equity in BC.