Standing Committee on Industry and Technology

Comité permanent de l'industrie et de la technologie

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 16, 2022 -

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (Committee) presented its Fourth Report in the House of Commons entitled Positioning Canada as a leader in the supply and processing of critical minerals.

Members of the Committee shared their thoughts regarding the report:

"As the world evolves with an accelerating shift towards electric vehicles and significant changes to supply chains globally, Canada has a unique opportunity to develop its critical minerals sector so as to foster growth all across the country. If developed in a smart and sustainable way, with a view towards broader supply chain needs and developments, Canada’s critical minerals can become an essential part of our long term prosperity and security. I wish to thank all witnesses who participated in this study as well as all members for their diligent work. We will be looking forward to the government’s response."

Joël Lightbound, Chair of the Committee

"Canada has an abundance of natural resources, including critical minerals. The supply and processing of critical minerals will be important for Canada's long-term economic growth and prosperity. Canada can be a leader, but only if we take this issue seriously, work with our allies, and protect North American supply chains. I look forward to the government’s response once the report has been tabled in the House of Commons."

Michael Kram, Vice-Chair of the Committee

"We must take action to encourage the transformation of critical minerals in close proximity with resource extraction sites and spur development in regions where these resources occur naturally. We must place these regions at the heart of an urgent and necessary national strategy on critical and strategic minerals and make them play a key role in the green transition so that we can tackle the supply chain challenges of electric vehicles. That is why I welcome the recommendation on the creation of a Centre of Excellence on battery minerals and urge the government to act quickly, based on page 28, so that ‘Abitibi-Témiscamingue becomes the ideal place to host it’ as announced in the Government of Canada’s 2021 budget."

Sébastien Lemire, Vice-Chair of the Committee

"That with the transformation of the auto sector from internal combustion to electric and other carbon-free energy sources, Canada has the opportunity to encompass the entire supply chain. From mining and refining, to battery creation and production, to vehicle assembly, and finally recycling and re-use. This must be done in an environmentally sustainable way with an increasing focus on ensuring the entire life-cycle of the vehicles and components are addressed. Furthermore, as competition around the globe intensifies, national security reviews must become more rigorous and expeditious."

Brian Masse, Member of the Committee from the New Democratic Party

The Committee held six meetings on this topic between February and April 2022, during which it heard from 24 witnesses. The report is available on the Committee’s website.