Abstract
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), in collaboration with federal partners, has designed and delivered a suite of investment programs supporting all six areas of focus of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. Supported by nearly $4 billion in funding from Budgets 2021 to 2024 – and further enhanced through Budget 2025 and off-cycle funding to support the advancement of Canada’s G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan and defence and national security objectives – the strategy aims to increase the supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals while strengthening Canada’s green and digital economies.
NRCan’s Minerals Programs Branch delivers grants and contributions programming that advances Canadian critical minerals projects aligned with priorities such as defence, clean technologies, and dual-use value-chains. NRCan’s investment suite includes the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF), which will be integrated into the new First and Last Mile Fund (FLMF) starting in 2026–27, and continues to support clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects related to critical minerals development. It also includes the Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration (CMRDD) contributions stream, and the Global Partnerships Initiative (GPI). Complementary investments under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy comprise of the Critical Minerals Geoscience and Data Initiative (CMGD) and the Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) programs. Together, these investments support and enable Canadian industry and research organizations in accelerating the development of strategic critical mineral projects, including advancing mineral processing and hydrometallurgy processes and technologies.
Grounded in the objectives of the Canadian Critical Mineral Strategy, these initiatives advance research and innovation; accelerate project readiness; build sustainable infrastructure; strengthen Indigenous participation and reconciliation; grow a skilled and diverse workforce; and strengthen Canada’s global leadership and security.
With an emphasis on the CMRDD and GPI contribution programs, this presentation will inform stakeholders on the value of federal government programs and incentives that support critical mineral resource development. Investments made to date and emerging successes will demonstrate advancements in innovation across critical mineral extraction and processing in a rapidly evolving industry.