Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning metals and non-metals miners, explorers and prospectors. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Dates: 2025-06-22 to 2025-06-28

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📱 Public Officials' Social Media
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal GR News

One Canadian Economy Act Receives Royal Assent, Sets Project Review Overhaul

Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, received Royal Assent on June 26, 2025. The legislation brings into effect the Building Canada Act and the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act. With the Building Canada Act now in force, the federal government will begin consultations with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and private sector proponents to determine the first set of national interest projects eligible for the expedited approval framework. The Act introduces a new Major Projects Office, which will coordinate reviews under a 'one project, one review' approach, aiming to cut duplicative federal and provincial assessments. An Indigenous Advisory Council will participate in the office, aligning with federal commitments to section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

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Ottawa Details Implementation of Project Review Timelines and Indigenous Consultation Process

The implementation plan for the One Canadian Economy Act outlines next steps for selecting projects deemed in the national interest. Following consultations with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners, projects may be added to the Building Canada Act schedule via Order in Council after a mandatory 30-day public notice in the Canada Gazette. Projects listed will be subject to an expedited federal review, with a stated target of completion within two years, and reviews will focus on how to construct the project, instead of whether it proceeds. Regulatory duplication between federal and provincial assessments is to be reduced through a 'one project, one review' structure.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Hodgson Addresses Toronto Region Board of Trade on Critical Minerals, Transmission, and Major Projects Office

Speaking in Toronto on June 25, 2025, Minister of Natural Resources Tim Hodgson described the federal government’s Build Canada agenda and the operational direction of the newly established Major Projects Office. Hodgson noted that Ontario’s nuclear sector, responsible for 58% of provincial electricity and 15% of national supply, is a model for cross-provincial collaboration. He indicated that a pan-Canadian approach will underpin not only electricity transmission but also critical mineral supply chains. Announced at the G7, Canada’s Critical Minerals Action Plan is backed by $70 million in investments and includes a First and Last Mile Fund to connect remote mineral projects to transportation and grid infrastructure.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada Gazette: Tribunal Continues Duties on Imported Circular Copper Tube

On June 18, 2025, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal extended, without amendment, its order imposing anti-dumping and countervailing duties on circular copper tube from Brazil, China, Korea, Greece, and Mexico. These measures, pursuant to the Special Import Measures Act, will remain in force, affecting importers and downstream processors in the copper supply chain. Details and exclusions are specified in the Tribunal's orders.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

StatsCan Reports April 2025 Energy Output Growth and Clean Tech R&D Data

Statistics Canada reported a 3.5% year-over-year increase in Canadian primary energy production in April 2025, with five of six energy sectors showing gains. Secondary energy output rose by 6.6%, led by refined petroleum products. Additionally, datasets covering business R&D expenditures in environmental and clean technology products for 2020 and 2021 were released. These figures provide reference points for the energy and technology segments of the resource sector.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca, Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

US Federal GR News

U.S. Environmental Assessment Finds No Significant Impact for North Dakota Emergency Federal Coal Lease

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement released a draft environmental assessment for Falkirk Mining Company's proposed emergency federal coal lease in McLean County, North Dakota. Covering 800 acres and an estimated 11.3 million tons of coal, the lease could allow mining through 2045.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

NRC Issues Environmental Assessment for Alternate Radioactive Disposal in North Slope, Alaska

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved an environmental assessment and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for an alternate method to dispose of well logging sand-outs containing residual radioactive materials by injection into Class I disposal wells in Alaska's North Slope. The assessment concluded that the method would not have significant effects on land use, water, public health, or environment, given operational and isolation requirements.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

OSMRE Approves Amendments to Pennsylvania’s Surface Mining Regulatory Program

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement finalized rule changes to Pennsylvania’s mining program, effective July 28, 2025. The amendments require collateral bond valuations based on current market value, expand the definition of mining-related haul roads to include certain public roads, and align temporary cessation standards and civil penalty structures with federal regulations. Updates also revise remining bond guarantees, eligible disposal sites, and incorporate new storm event data from NOAA Atlas 14.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Environmental Impact Processes Resume for Oil and Gas Leasing on California Public Lands

The Bureau of Land Management, California, announced separate but parallel processes to prepare supplemental environmental impact statements (EIS) and consider amendments to resource management plans (RMP) for oil and gas leasing in both the Central Coast and Bakersfield Field Office areas. Scoping periods are underway for public comments.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov, U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

NRC Approves American Centrifuge Plant License Extension for HALEU Demo Through 2034

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact to extend the American Centrifuge Plant’s high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) demonstration operations in Pike County, Ohio, through June 30, 2034. The amendment supports the Department of Energy's milestone of 900 kilograms HALEU per year. The NRC found no significant impacts associated with the multi-year facility extension, as all enrichment activities remain within existing infrastructure and current effluent monitoring confirms exposures and emissions are within regulatory limits.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Canadian Provincial GR News

B.C. Grants Full Permitting for Highland Valley Copper Mine Extension

British Columbia granted all required permits for Teck's Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension project, enabling operations into the mid-2040s. The expansion is set to increase output by 900 million tonnes of ore and add 200 new jobs, pending a final construction decision by Teck Resources.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.bc.ca

Government Consultations

Federal Consultation Opens on Proposed Coal Mining Effluent Regulations

Environment and Climate Change Canada has opened consultation on proposed regulations that will establish baseline effluent standards and monitoring for all Canadian coal mines, with some specific provisions for Elk Valley facilities. The consultation ends August 27, 2025.

Sources: Canadian Government Consultations: www.canada.ca

Public Officials' Social Media

MP Tim Hodgson stated on Twitter that Canada is prepared to implement the new G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, which aims to mobilize capital for mining, processing, and recycling while driving innovation across the supply chain.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Richard Martel announced that he questioned federal ministers regarding military investments, critical minerals, and trade tariffs, addressing issues related to resource development in his region.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP David J. McGuinty tweeted that Canada has signed NATO’s Defence Critical Raw Materials Stockpiling Letter of Intent, with the stated purpose of leveraging Canadian mineral reserves for new industry opportunities.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Sandra Cobena met with local officials to discuss the role of natural resource projects in Canada’s economic competitiveness, emphasizing the need for regulatory certainty.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Marc Gold announced the imminent Royal Assent of Bill C-5, noting its measures to remove federal obstacles to interprovincial trade and facilitate major project approvals.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• Troilus Files Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Troilus Copper-Gold Project: Troilus has filed an environmental and social impact assessment for its copper-gold project.
• How Canada’s critical minerals push may spur hundreds of thousands of jobs: Coverage of potential job creation resulting from Canada’s critical minerals development initiatives.
• Mining's New Golden Age Driven By Inflation Fears: An examination of gold market trends amid inflation concerns.
• Western Canada holds potential to become a 'critical minerals processing behemoth,' expert says: Analysts discuss the prospects for large-scale critical minerals processing in Western Canada.
• Alamos Gold Announces Island Gold District Base Case Life of Mine Plan Outlining One of the Largest and Lowest-Cost Gold Mines in Canada with Significant Upside: Alamos Gold released an updated mine plan for its Island Gold district operations.
• From Exploration to Execution: New Gold Player Emerges in One of Canada's Premier Mining Districts: A report on a new entrant ramping up activity in a leading Canadian gold region.
• Lode Gold Engages Strategic Advisors to Advance Development of the Fremont Mine in Gold County- Mariposa, California: Lode Gold brings in new advisory expertise for its U.S. gold project.
• Troilus Files Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Troilus Copper-Gold Project: Troilus further details assessment steps for copper-gold operations.
• From Exploration to Execution: New Gold Player Emerges in One of Canada's Premier Mining Districts: Additional context on corporate developments in Canada's exploration space.