In a bid to solidify its position as a leading producer of critical minerals during the global energy transition, Canada has committed up to C$60 million (US$42 million) for infrastructure projects in the Yukon Territory and British Columbia’s Golden Triangle. The announcement was made by Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, alongside BC’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Josie Osborne, and Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai.
The C$60 million, pending final approval from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), will fund two critical minerals infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating the development of key mining operations in these regions.
C$20 million of the investment will go towards building a 43-km access road to the proposed Galore Creek copper mine in Tahltan Territory, northern BC. The Galore Creek deposit, a joint venture between Newmont and Teck Resources, holds an estimated 12 billion pounds of copper, which could substantially boost Canada’s copper production once the mine becomes operational.
The remaining C$40 million will support the Yukon government’s efforts to advance pre-feasibility studies for a 765-km high-voltage transmission line that would connect Yukon’s electrical grid to the North American grid in British Columbia. This transmission line would enable the development of projects producing vital minerals such as cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, and platinum group metals.
These infrastructure developments, alongside the Northwest BC Highway Corridor Improvements project, are vital to unlocking critical mineral resources in the Golden Triangle, which is home to roughly 75% of Canada’s copper reserves, and in the Yukon. The funding is part of the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF), a key component of the Canadian government’s strategy to close infrastructure gaps and promote sustainable mineral production.
“These projects will help develop the infrastructure needed to access and transport our critical mineral resources in northern BC and the Yukon,” Minister Wilkinson said. “Investments like these are essential for accelerating mine construction, improving community access and safety, and creating good jobs in the mining sector across British Columbia and the Yukon.”