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Canadian Media Resource Articles

New pathway to extract copper from sulfide ores – by Alice Martin (CIM Magazine – April 03, 2025)

https://magazine.cim.org/en/

B.C.-based pH7 Technologies is piloting a new heap leaching technology to recover copper from low-grade ores

Agrowing demand for copper worldwide is fuelling companies like pH7 Technologies to find ways to extract copper and other critical minerals from low-grade ore, tailings and mine waste. The Vancouver-based company is currently developing a process that uses heap leaching to recover copper from sulfide ores, like chalcopyrite, whereas traditional heap leaching is usually confined to oxide ores.

Mohammad Doostmohammadi, the company’s CEO and founder, who has a master’s degree in chemical engineering and has worked as a mining engineer, said in an interview with CIM Magazine that sulfide ores, which are low-grade and expensive to extract, represent 80 per cent of copper deposits worldwide.

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Steel producers call on Ottawa to put tariffs on foreign dumpers to offset pain from U.S. duties – by Niall McGee (Globe and Mail – April 4, 2025)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/

The Canadian Steel Producers Association is calling on the federal government to immediately erect new trade barriers against foreign dumping to help domestic producers better compete in their home market in the face of U.S. tariffs.

Canadian steelmakers are highly dependent on the U.S. market and are now desperately trying to win more business at home where demand outstrips production. But domestic producers often have to compete with foreign competitors engaging in dumping – selling product at artificially low prices in order to gain market share. At its most egregious, the practice can drive Canadian steelmakers out of the market entirely.

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NICO project in Northwest Territories could establish domestic bismuth supply – by Amanda Stutt (Mining.com – March 31, 2025)

https://www.mining.com/

Bismuth prices surged to all-time highs on the European spot market in March, a more than six-fold rise since January, as China’s export controls squeeze supplies of the mineral used in atomic research, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

China in February announced plans to impose export controls on five key metals — tungsten, tellurium, molybdenum, indium and bismuth — in response to US President Trump’s import tariffs. Bismuth is a scarce industrial metal that has characteristics similar to lead, but is non-toxic, and the industry is currently developing uses for replacing lead.

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Minister Lecce talks about his new expanded portfolio, meetings in Washington – by Barbara Patrocinio (iPolitics.ca – April 1, 2025)

https://www.ipolitics.ca/

“The Americans are waking up to the reality that they are dependent on China for critical minerals, and they need an alternative,” Lecce said. “Ontario is the answer.”

A day before President Trump is poised to announce tariffs that experts say will harm the economy in both countries, Ontario’s Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce went to D.C. trying to position the province as Washington’s most reliable partner.

“The Americans are waking up to the reality that they are dependent on China for critical minerals, and they need an alternative,” Lecce said. “Ontario is the answer.” Minister Lecce attended the SAFE Summit in Washington, a meeting with the global leaders in energy, transportation and supply chain.

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America’s long Arctic love affair is culminating in Trump’s designs on Greenland – by Peter Harmsen (Globe and Mail – April 2, 2025)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/

Peter Harmsen is a journalist and the author of Fury and Ice: Greenland, the United States and Germany in World War II.

The historically minded among us may have sensed a certain déjà vu this weekend when U.S. President Donald Trump talked to NBC News about the role military force could play in gaining control of Greenland, currently an autonomous territory of long-time ally Denmark: “I don’t take anything off the table.”

After all, in 1940, when the Americans were slowly waking up from their isolationist slumber to side with the Western democracies in the struggle against fascism, they took a break from this grand mission to threaten Canada and Britain with armed might to keep Greenland to themselves.

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Argentina’s economic rock star Milei attracts mining – by Colin McClelland (Northern Miner – April 2, 2025)

https://www.northernminer.com/

Argentine President Javier Milei, who took office two years ago in a chainsaw-wielding campaign against big government, has slashed inflation by nearly two-thirds after gutting public spending and halting money printing to finance the deficit.

His Incentive Regime for Large Investments of more than $200 million (C$285 million), known by its Spanish acronym RIGI, offers 25% corporate income tax instead of 35%, plans regulatory stability for 30 years and, in a major shift, allows external arbitration over disputes.

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Pincher Creek council weighs potential plebiscite on Grassy Mountain coal mine – by Somya Lohia (Hamilton Spectator – April 2, 2025)

https://www.thespec.com/

The Town of Pincher Creek is looking into whether a plebiscite could be held during the October municipal election to gauge public sentiment on the proposed Grassy Mountain coal mining project. The idea was introduced by deputy mayor Wayne Oliver during the March 24 council meeting.

Oliver put forward a notice of motion requesting that administration investigate the feasibility of holding an informational plebiscite, similar to the one Crowsnest Pass held last year. However, he suggested holding it in conjunction with the upcoming municipal election.

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Nunavut hunters urge for reassessment as Baffinland eyes 2026 construction of Steensby rail – by Samuel Wat (CBC News North – April 01, 2025)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/

The project was approved more than a decade ago. Hunters say a lot has changed since then

Baffinland Iron Mines is now looking at 2026 as a start date for its proposed expansion to an iron ore mine in Nunavut, but local hunters are calling for the project to be reassessed before it can go ahead. The mining company wants to ship iron ore from its existing Mary River mine, by building a railway south to a proposed port at Steensby Inlet.

It’s a plan that was approved by the federal government in 2012. For years, it was put on the back burner with Baffinland favouring a railway to be built from the mine north to Milne Inlet — an option it said would be less costly. That was rejected by the federal government in 2022, causing Baffinland to switch back to the Steensby Inlet track.

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Trade war saps Canadian share sale market despite metals deals – by Geoffrey Morgan (Bloomberg News – April 1, 2025)

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/

Volatility from trade tensions with the US kept a lid on Canada’s market for equity deals in the first quarter, even as activity in precious metals perked up.

Canada-listed firms raised just $2 billion in the first quarter, compared to the $2.9 billion raised during the same period a year ago, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Investment bankers say market gyrations wrought by the US-Canada trade war have made dealmaking difficult.

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What you need to know about Trump’s tariffs on Canadian potash on ‘Liberation Day’ – by Michael Joel-Hansen (Saskatoon StarPhoenix – April 02, 2025)

https://thestarphoenix.com/

The White House has indicated that any new tariffs announced will stick, even if they affect American farmers

United States tariffs on Canadian potash may be going up on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump moves to impose reciprocal tariffs on all its trading partners, including Canada, just as a previous exemption limiting the levy to 10 per cent expires.

Trump has hailed April 2 as “Liberation Day” for the U.S. and said the new round of tariffs will match surtax charges countries impose on American imports. The White House said on Monday that reciprocal tariffs would go into effect immediately.Meanwhile, April 2 is also the date an exemption reducing potash tariffs to 10 per cent from 25 per cent are set to expire.

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First Quantum backs off Panama arbitration claims, opening door to reopening copper mine – by Niall McGee (Globe and Mail – April 2, 2025)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/

Canadian copper miner First Quantum Minerals Ltd. has agreed to drop or suspend its arbitration claims against Panama, opening the door to a resolution that could see its giant operations in the country eventually reopen.

Vancouver-based First Quantum in late 2023 filed international arbitration proceedings against Panama around the time then-president Laurentino Cortizo ordered the shutdown of its Cobre Panama mine. Mr. Cortizo took the drastic step after Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that its mining contract was unconstitutional, and during massive public protests against the mine.

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Hudbay becomes sole owner of Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia – by Staff (Mining.com – March 27, 2025)

https://www.mining.com/

Hudbay Minerals (TSX, NYSE: HBM) has consolidated ownership of the Copper Mountain mine in southern British Columbia, a move that aligns with the Canadian miner’s strategy to boost its copper production in North America.

On Thursday, Hudbay said it is acquiring Mitsubishi Materials’ 25% stake in the mine for $44.25 million in cash, of which $4.5 million is paid upfront and $21 million paid in seven equal annual installments. The remaining $18.75 million will consist of five equal payments contingent on certain operating milestones.

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Gold is in the final stages of its decade-long rally – by Avi Gilburt (Kitco News – March 31, 2025)

https://www.kitco.com/

It is now almost 14 years since I published my first public article on gold analysis. Back in August of 2011, I outlined my expectation for a top in gold at $1,915 even though it was involved in a parabolic rally at the time. Well, needless to say, that gold article was not viewed favorably by readers at the time.

In fact, I was summarily told in the comments section that I knew nothing about the gold or financial markets. Yet, one brave commenter asked me where I foresee gold heading if it does top at my expected target. And, when I answered that I expected it could drop back to the $1,000 region he responded by chiming in as the others and telling me I know nothing about the gold or financial markets.

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Ring of Fire road will be ‘real opportunity’ for northern Ontario, minister says – by Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mello (Global News – March 31, 2025)

https://globalnews.ca/

Sensing a potential change in tone from the next federal government as U.S. President Donald Trump slaps tariffs on Canada, the Ford government is ramping up its efforts to build a road to the Ring of Fire. Creating a way to mine the mineral-rich area in northern Ontario has been on Premier Doug Ford’s to-do list since he was elected for the first time in 2018, but little progress has been made.

Now, with a federal election in full swing, Ontario sees a potential opportunity to move its long-held ambitions forward. Prime Minister and Liberal Leader Mark Carney has said he wants to create a process for the federal government to support nation-building projects if he’s elected, with the Ring of Fire being one option.

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Port of Churchill sees renewed interest as Canada looks to diversify trade routes – by Lauren Krugel (Canadian Press – March 30, 2025)

https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/

Manitoba may be smack dab in the middle of the country, but its premier wishes to remind Canadians it’s a maritime province. “When you think of Manitoba, you think of the Prairies, you think of the bush, but did you know that you can get to saltwater as well?” Wab Kinew said in early February as the province and Ottawa announced a joint $80-million investment in the Port of Churchill.

Trade routes that eschew the United States have become a focus as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canadian sovereignty and subject businesses to tariff whiplash.

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