Manitoba slides down mining sector investment attractiveness list: report
The keystone province made the Fraser Institute's top-10 list of most attractive jurisdictions for mineral endowment. However, the 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies — released earlier this week — places Manitoba 26th of 82 jurisdictions for investment attractiveness.
A year prior, Manitoba ranked sixth of 86.
The Tanco lithium mine near Lac du Bonnet. (Sinomine Resource Group / Free Press files)
'It's just a wake-up call that there are some outstanding issues that need to be addressed,' said John Morris, co-director of the Mining Association of Manitoba.
Survey respondents cited increased concerns about Manitoba's community development conditions, political stability and uncertainty over what areas will be protected, the report reads.
Morris said it aligns with what he's heard from junior firms that don't yet have operational mines.
Hesitation stems, in part, from the New Democrats' 2023 promise to protect 30 per cent of Manitoba's lands and waters by 2030, Morris said.
'They do not know whether certain areas will become off limits for future mining projects,' he continued. 'If you're trying to plan a 30-year project … you will want to know in the early days whether where you're exploring is going to be put into a protected area or not.'
Mine production often follows a decade of research and exploration, Morris noted. Policy interpretation of Manitoba's heritage resource permits and requirements is a long-standing issue, he added.
Morris expressed confidence the industry's concerns will be addressed: 'Our association has a very good working relationship with the provincial government.'
Politicians have touted Manitoba as the 'Costco of critical minerals,' referring to the variety of goods available at the big-box retailer.
Manitoba has 30 of 34 minerals deemed critical. It has four active mines producing zinc, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, cesium and lithium.
Provincial mining minister Jamie Moses underscored the Fraser Institute report's timeline: the survey was conducted August-December 2024. Since the feedback window's tail end, the NDP has released a critical mineral strategy, opened a critical mineral office and a new gold mine, Moses said.
(The Alamos Gold mine near Lynn Lake was being developed during the Progressive Conservatives' most recent reign.)
'Our government takes seriously the economic opportunity we have in our critical minerals sector,' Moses said.
Environmental safety is also taken seriously, he said.
He deferred to the province's environment minister when asked about a map or other means of transparency to show which areas will be conserved by 2030.
There's been 'a lot of discussion' about the Seal River Watershed, Moses noted. Government and Indigenous leaders are pursuing a formal designation to turn the watershed, which is 50,000 square kilometres, into an protected area; it follows a year-long assessment.
'We know that we can do more than one thing at one time,' Moses said. 'That includes being able to advance mineral projects and also ensure that we have the right environmental sustainability approach.'
Lauren Stone, PC finance critic, said the report shows the New Democrats have demonstrated they're 'anti-development and have created an anti-business rhetoric.'
Monday Mornings
The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week.
'Manitoba should be very concerned when we have almost equivalent the number of critical minerals here … to Saskatchewan.'
Saskatchewan ranked seventh on the Fraser Institute's list for investor attractiveness. It touts 27 critical minerals within its borders.
The 86-page report incorporates 350 responses from mining and exploration companies. Finland was crowned the top jurisdiction based on investment attractiveness.
The Fraser Institute ranked every province and territory except for Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Yukon also ranked ahead of Manitoba in investment attractiveness, the report says.
gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
Gabrielle PichéReporter
Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle.
Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Charity building second housing site in city
Housing advocates say the province needs more social-housing projects to address the homelessness crisis in Manitoba. Construction on a 23-unit apartment building at 480 Young St. was underway Wednesday. The aim is to house up to 40 homeless and at-risk individuals and families by the end of 2025. Ontario-based charity Raising the Roof bought the derelict property in November and began renovations in May. It's the second project the non-profit has undertaken in Winnipeg. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Leslie Bellingham, director of strategic partnerships and initiatives for Raising the Roof, said renovation projects such as the one on Young Street can play a significant role in addressing homelessness. 'I think we need social housing. We tend to lean to not-for-profit or public housing because it not only guarantees it now, but also in the future,' Jamil Mahmood, executive director of Main Street Project, said. The Spence-area apartment block was put into receivership in March 2023 after a significant fire in 2022. The building presented an opportunity for Raising the Roof to expand its housing projects outside Ontario. The building cost $1 million and, at the time of purchase, the organization expected the renovation to cost less than $5 million. Funding for the project came through donors and private partnerships. After renovations are finished, 24/7 on-site supports from Main Street Project will be available for tenants. Mahmood said the project is seeking public funding for operations and staff members at the complex. A provincial government spokesperson wouldn't confirm whether the province is in negotiations to provide operational funding, citing byelection blackout rules. Mahmood said any vacant or derelict building in Winnipeg should be eyed for projects such as this and that the province shouldn't rely on private landlords to increase the housing supply for homeless people. 'If there are private landlords offering, great, but I think there's a guarantee this (project) is going to last longer term and meet the needs if it's publicly or not-for-profit owned,' he said. 'It gives more stability for the longer-term housing we need.' Mahmood estimates the province needs 10,000 units of housing to meet the needs of the province's homeless population, including those living in encampments, in shelters or are at risk of becoming homeless. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press The building at 480 Young St. could house up to 40 homeless and at-risk individuals and families by the end of 2025. Data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show the average vacancy rate for an apartment in Winnipeg in October 2024 was 1.7 per cent. Premier Wab Kinew said last month that when his government took office, it was constrained by the lack of housing units after the former government sold some of its housing stock. He said the province is in the process of building and restoring social-housing units and helping an estimated 700 Manitobans move from tents to homes as part of the government's Your Way Home strategy to end chronic homelessness. The province had moved 59 people from encampments to housing as of the end of July. Fifty-three have moved into social housing, and six live in private rentals. In May, the province announced 67 new social-housing units, all of which are occupied. Leslie Bellingham, director of strategic partnerships and initiatives for Raising the Roof, said renovation projects such as the one on Young Street can play a significant role in addressing homelessness. 'When you have buildings like this that can be renovated, it's efficient, and you'd be able to do this faster and easier,' she said. 'If we have the space available, then we can use it, and use it to its full potential.' The non-profit's other project, at a former nail salon at 573 Mountain Ave., was converted to a three-unit home and has been occupied ever since. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press The building cost $1 million and, at the time of purchase, Raising the Roof expected the renovation to cost less than $5 million. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. 'We were there earlier today and were speaking with one of the tenants, who just was telling us all of the impacts on her life and everything that she was able to do because of the project,' Bellingham said. 'That's definitely the kind of impact that we're trying to recreate here.' Mahmood is optimistic about 480 Young St. 'If it goes well, I think there's a good model,' he said. 'We need more housing in general, but if a not-for-profit can be identified as a service provider early on, and then a partner like Raise the Roof can do all the building work and capital work, then we don't have to develop those expertise.' Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom as a multimedia producer in 2023. Read more about Nicole. Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Court ruling declaring removal of bike lanes unconstitutional is 'ridiculous': Doug Ford
THORNHILL — Ontario Premier Doug Ford teed off Wednesday on a court decision declaring his law to remove three Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional, calling it the 'most ridiculous' ruling he has ever seen. Ford has already said his government plans to appeal, even as it works on a compromise with the city to both keep the bike lanes and add extra lanes for vehicle traffic. He said he has faith that the Court of Appeal will overturn the lower-court ruling, but in the event it does not, he did not rule out using the notwithstanding clause to save the law. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Let's see what happens at the Court of Appeals, and then we'll go from there, but I have confidence in the courts,' Ford said at an unrelated transit announcement. Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas ruled the lane removals would put people at an 'increased risk of harm and death' and violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He noted that the government had received advice from experts, reports from Toronto officials and evidence from the city and elsewhere that removing bike lanes 'will not achieve the asserted goal' of the law, to reduce traffic. Ford made the removal of bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue a campaign issue during the snap election he called and won in February, and he says the judge's ruling tramples on people's democratic rights. 'This is the most ridiculous decision I've ever seen,' he said. 'I've never seen a decision like this, that a judge overrules the people of Ontario because of ideology — not because of law — ideology, but we knew when they picked this judge where it was going anyway, so it's not a big surprise.' It's not the first time Ford has called judges' integrity into question. In April he blasted judges he perceives as being soft on crime, and floated ideas such as electing judges and offering them payouts to retire early. Last year, Ford defended his government's appointments of two former staffers to a committee that helps select provincial judges, saying he wants 'like-minded people' in appointments, not Liberals or New Democrats. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
5 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Court ruling declaring removal of bike lanes unconstitutional is 'ridiculous': Doug Ford
THORNHILL — Ontario Premier Doug Ford teed off Wednesday on a court decision declaring his law to remove three Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional, calling it the 'most ridiculous' ruling he has ever seen. Article content Ford has already said his government plans to appeal, even as it works on a compromise with the city to both keep the bike lanes and add extra lanes for vehicle traffic. Article content Article content He said he has faith that the Court of Appeal will overturn the lower-court ruling, but in the event it does not, he did not rule out using the notwithstanding clause to save the law. Article content Article content 'Let's see what happens at the Court of Appeals, and then we'll go from there, but I have confidence in the courts,' Ford said at an unrelated transit announcement. Article content Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas ruled the lane removals would put people at an 'increased risk of harm and death' and violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Article content He noted that the government had received advice from experts, reports from Toronto officials and evidence from the city and elsewhere that removing bike lanes 'will not achieve the asserted goal' of the law, to reduce traffic. Article content Ford made the removal of bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue a campaign issue during the snap election he called and won in February, and he says the judge's ruling tramples on people's democratic rights. Article content Article content 'This is the most ridiculous decision I've ever seen,' he said. Article content Article content 'I've never seen a decision like this, that a judge overrules the people of Ontario because of ideology — not because of law — ideology, but we knew when they picked this judge where it was going anyway, so it's not a big surprise.' Article content It's not the first time Ford has called judges' integrity into question. In April he blasted judges he perceives as being soft on crime, and floated ideas such as electing judges and offering them payouts to retire early. Article content Last year, Ford defended his government's appointments of two former staffers to a committee that helps select provincial judges, saying he wants 'like-minded people' in appointments, not Liberals or New Democrats. Article content
