There’s a lot of talk these days about “critical minerals”. British Columbia now has a ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals. There have been tariff threats and retaliatory measures linked to steel, aluminum, copper, germanium, and other minerals. There are commitments to fast-track mining projects in the province as looming economic threats remain volatile.
A year ago, the BC Mining Law Reform Network met in Terrace to examine the narratives and realities of mining in the province, and look to broader solutions for getting off of fossil fuels while minimizing the need for new mines. We knew we needed to amplify the conversation and strategies to ensure that we don’t mess up the planet with another extractive industry while trying to save it from oil, gas and coal.
The last few months have seen a lot more hype and urgency around “critical minerals” given their link to the current climate crisis, geopolitical tensions and tariff threats. This gave rise to more questions for me: What is germanium used for? Is BC really the U.S.’s only supplier? Can we even trace where mined materials from B.C. end up?
I decided to explore some of these questions and put together this primer to help fact-check and broaden the conversation around “critical minerals”. The focus is on British Columbia, although it references refinery capacity and linkages in other parts of the country.
The primer attempts to answer the questions:
- what are "critical minerals”? (and where did this term come from?)
- what minerals do Canada and B.C. consider “critical"?
- is gold a “critical mineral”? (spoiler alert: No!)
- what does B.C. actually mine?
- what about processing our mined materials?
- can we trace the end use of B.C.’s mined materials?
- what are rare earth elements? what about germanium?
- what is the impact of the electric vehicle revolution?
- what is re-mining?
- is “critical minerals” just greenwashing?
It’s meant to provide context and background to shed light on the industry hype and the push to expedite permitting and mine more, faster, everywhere.
We need to work toward to a clean energy future where mining impacts are reduced instead of exacerbated, and work on broad solutions to help minimize the need for new mines.
Please share this resource. We hope it adds value and helps expands the conversation.
Sincerely,
Nikki Skuce
Co-Chair, BC Mining Law Reform network
