British Columbia has vowed to fast-track several mining projects in an effort to blunt the impact of U.S. tariffs. In our latest newsletter, we dig into it
Across Canada, governments are racing to expand production of critical minerals. Here, lithium core samples extracted in Manitoba are stacked on pallets.
Photo: Shannon VanRaes / The Narwhal
Why so critical?What makes a mine critical? As B.C. vows to fast-track several projects, we dig into what it means for the environment and Indigenous Rights.
If you’re an optimist like me, you probably think the reason we deem certain minerals “critical” is because our low-carbon future hinges on renewable energy technologies that need them.
I hate to break it to you, babes: there’s absolutely no guarantee they’ll actually be used by governments to help us get off fossil fuels faster. What’s more? There’s nothing really “critical” about them … unless we’re talking about, say, national interests (which usually means tools of warfare) or iPhones.
And with all the tariff talks — I know, I’m sorry — British Columbia’s government is among those looking to Canada’s minerals to help wiggle our way out of looming economic woes. That’s what freelance journalist Zoë Yunker looked into for a feature we published this week.
“The conversation around critical minerals had long been a blind spot for me — I had a general idea that we need more of them to supply the technologies required to transition away from fossil fuels, but I also had a lot of questions,” she told me.
B.C. is home to 14 of 34 federally listed critical minerals — and the province is now fast-tracking four mining projects.
On top of that, the B.C. government just gave the greenlight for Canada’s second-largest copper mine, Gibraltar, to forgo an environmental assessment for a planned expansion. As biodiversity reporter Ainslie Cruickshank details, the mine is in the territory of Xatśūll First Nation — where the ecosystem is still recovering from the infamous 2014 Mount Polley mining disaster that has contaminated the land and water with toxic waste.
We’re a month out from a federal election and it feels, if I’m being honest, kind of like a big one. U.S. President Donald Trump appears hell-bent on throwing Canada into economic chaos, and in a few weeks voters will decide who will lead this country’s response.
We’re all worried about jobs, housing, inflation and the economy, and that makes sense. Also at stake is the future of this country’s land, water and resources — and the team at The Narwhal will be keeping a close watch on what party leaders are saying, and not saying, on the subject.
A few months ago, the rise of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives seemed almost a foregone conclusion. But the Liberal party’s outlook has shifted dramatically since Mark Carney took the helm.
We don’t know what will happen next, but we can promise to be here to help make sense of it — and make sure the natural world we all care about doesn’t get lost in the noise. Find our election coverage here, and bookmark the page to catch our ongoing reporting.
— Jacqueline Ronson, assistant editor
This week in The Narwhal
Alberta considering killing its industrial carbon tax, email shows By Drew Anderson
Alberta introduced North America’s first industrial carbon tax in 2007. Now an industry email obtained by The Narwhal lays out three options it says the government is proposing to scrap or alter the plan.
Canada has another carbon tax. Poilievre wants to axe it, too By Drew Anderson & Fatima Syed READ MORE
44 ‘serious’ leaks reported at B.C. oil and gas sites in the past year By Matt Simmons & Zak Vescera READ MORE
The feds raised doubts about a climate scientist’s LNG research. He says they sounded like fossil fuel lobbyists By Carl Meyer & Matt Simmons READ MORE
Wealthy Canadians use a charitable tax loophole to fund mining companies By Gabe Oatley READ MORE
Indigenous, community groups take BC Energy Regulator to court over PRGT pipeline approval By Matt Simmons READ MORE
According to one expert source, the domestic supply of tennis balls is extremely critical. If you think The Narwhal’s reporting on the natural world is just as critical, we hope you’ll tell a friend — and remind them to subscribe!
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Across Canada, governments are racing to expand production of critical minerals. Here, lithium core samples extracted in Manitoba are stacked on pallets.
Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. On March 17, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre...
Your access to our journalism is free, always. Sign up for our newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in B.C. — and across Canada — you won’t find anywhere else.
Your access to our journalism is free, always. Sign up for our newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in B.C. — and across Canada — you won’t find anywhere else.
