Canada is pushing to significantly expand mineral exploration and mining activities across the country to supply critical minerals and precious metals used in many industries such as technology, defense, manufacturing and finance. To speed up this expansion, governments are reducing regulatory requirements, including providing exemptions to laws that protect the environment and species at risk, offering incentives and fast-tracking mining projects.
Removing safeguards or speeding up development processes, especially during ongoing environmental crises, can harm local ecosystems and place greater health, safety and economic burdens on nearby communities.
Although mining is important to Canada’s economy, efforts to speed up mineral development must not come before the need to protect nature, wildlife, the health and well-being of people, and Indigenous rights.
