Canada's List of 31 Critical Minerals

How Canada's List Was Determined

Canada's critical minerals list was developed by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) through a comprehensive assessment process that evaluated minerals against multiple criteria. The primary factors considered were the mineral's importance to Canada's economy and the economies of allied nations, the vulnerability of global supply chains to disruption, the mineral's role in the clean energy transition and advanced technology manufacturing, Canada's geological potential to produce the mineral, and the mineral's relevance to Canada's defense and security requirements.

The assessment incorporated input from provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous communities, industry associations, mining companies, academic researchers, and allied nation partners. This consultative approach ensured that the final list reflected not only quantitative supply risk metrics but also the practical realities of developing mineral resources across Canada's diverse geographic, regulatory, and social landscape. The list was first published in 2021 with 31 minerals, and the 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy confirmed this list while adding the priority minerals designation for a high-priority subset.

The Complete List of 31 Critical Minerals

Mineral	Canada's Production Role	Primary Applications
Aluminum	Third-largest primary aluminum producer	Aerospace, automotive, packaging
Antimony	Limited current production	Flame retardants, ammunition
Bismuth	By-product recovery potential	Pharmaceuticals, lead-free alloys
Cesium	Home to world's largest deposit (Tanco mine)	Atomic clocks, drilling fluids
Chromium	Deposits in Ontario, Manitoba	Stainless steel, superalloys
Cobalt	Fifth-largest producer globally	Batteries, superalloys, catalysts
Copper	Eighth-largest producer globally	Electrical, EVs, renewable energy
Fluorspar	Significant deposits in Newfoundland	Steel, aluminum, HF production
Gallium	By-product potential from aluminum smelting	Semiconductors, 5G, LEDs
Germanium	By-product potential from zinc refining	Fiber optics, infrared optics
Graphite	Growing production in Quebec, Ontario	Battery anodes, refractories
Helium	Significant production from Saskatchewan	MRI, semiconductors, aerospace
Indium	By-product recovery from zinc refining	Touchscreens, solar cells
Lithium	Emerging producer; major deposits in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta	EV batteries, grid storage
Magnesium	Production potential; deposits in Quebec, BC	Lightweight alloys, steelmaking
Manganese	Deposits in New Brunswick, BC	Steel production, batteries
Molybdenum	Major producer; by-product of copper mining in BC	Steel alloys, catalysts, lubricants
Nickel	Fifth-largest producer globally	Stainless steel, EV batteries
Niobium	Home to major deposit in Quebec (Niobec)	High-strength steel alloys
Platinum group metals	Third-largest PGM producer globally	Catalysts, fuel cells, hydrogen
Potash	Largest producer globally	Fertilizers, agriculture
Rare earth elements	Advanced projects in Quebec, NWT, Saskatchewan	Magnets, electronics, defense
Scandium	Resources identified in Quebec	Aluminum alloys, fuel cells
Selenium	By-product of copper refining	Solar cells, electronics, glass
Silicon	Production in Quebec using hydropower	Semiconductors, solar, alloys
Tantalum	Limited current production; exploration active	Capacitors, medical devices
Tellurium	By-product of copper refining	Solar cells, thermoelectrics
Tin	Limited current production; deposits identified	Solders, tin plating
Titanium	Major ilmenite producer in Quebec	Aerospace, medical, pigments
Tungsten	Significant deposits in NWT, Yukon, BC	Cutting tools, defense
Uranium	Second-largest producer globally	Nuclear energy, medical isotopes
Vanadium	Resources identified in Manitoba, Quebec	Steel alloys, flow batteries
Zinc	Fourth-largest producer globally	Galvanizing, alloys, batteries

Canada's Unique Inclusions

Canada's list includes several minerals not found on the U.S. or EU lists, reflecting Canada's distinct geological strengths and economic profile. Potash, which is absent from both the U.S. and EU critical minerals lists, is included on Canada's list because Canada is the world's largest producer and potash is essential to global food security through its role as the primary source of potassium fertilizer. Canada's potash industry, concentrated in Saskatchewan, generates billions of dollars in annual revenue and provides critical agricultural inputs to over 70 countries.

Uranium is another notable Canadian inclusion. Canada is the world's second-largest uranium producer, with major operations in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin producing some of the highest-grade uranium ore in the world. As nuclear energy experiences a global resurgence driven by the need for zero-carbon baseload electricity, Canada's uranium deposits and its deep expertise in nuclear technology (including the CANDU reactor system) give the mineral special strategic significance.

Cesium is included based on Canada's unique global position. The Tanco mine in Manitoba holds the world's largest known deposit of pollucite, the primary cesium mineral, giving Canada a near-monopoly on primary cesium production. This exceptional position in a niche but essential material (used in precision timing devices, oil and gas drilling fluids, and biomedical applications) merits critical designation despite cesium's relatively small market size.

Provincial and Territorial Mineral Endowments

Canada's critical minerals are distributed across the country, with each province and territory offering distinct geological advantages. Quebec is particularly rich in lithium, graphite, niobium, titanium, rare earth elements, and silicon, benefiting from abundant hydroelectric power that provides low-cost, low-carbon energy for mineral processing. Ontario hosts significant deposits of cobalt, nickel, chromium, and platinum group metals, particularly in the Ring of Fire region of northern Ontario, which remains one of the most significant undeveloped mineral deposits in Canada.

British Columbia contributes copper, molybdenum, and tungsten production, while Saskatchewan is home to the world's largest potash and uranium mining operations and is emerging as a significant helium producer. The Northwest Territories and Yukon contain tungsten, rare earth, and cobalt deposits, though remote location and limited infrastructure present development challenges. Newfoundland and Labrador hosts fluorspar deposits and nickel-cobalt resources at the Voisey's Bay operation. Manitoba's Tanco mine remains the world's premier cesium and tantalum source.

Regulatory and Indigenous Consultation Framework

Developing critical mineral projects in Canada requires navigating one of the world's most rigorous regulatory and consultation frameworks. Federal environmental assessments, conducted by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, evaluate major mining projects for environmental, social, health, and economic impacts. Provincial permitting processes add additional layers of review. Indigenous consultation and accommodation requirements, rooted in Section 35 of the Constitution Act and affirmed by decades of Supreme Court jurisprudence, mandate meaningful engagement with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities whose rights may be affected by mineral development.

The Critical Minerals Strategy acknowledges that reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is both a legal obligation and a strategic necessity. Many of Canada's most significant critical mineral deposits are located on or near Indigenous lands, and successful project development requires the free, prior, and informed consent of affected communities. The strategy includes dedicated funding for Indigenous participation in critical mineral projects, including equity ownership, employment, procurement, and revenue-sharing arrangements. This approach, while potentially extending project timelines, builds the social license necessary for long-term, stable mineral production.