May 31, 2026 to June 06, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning metals and non-metals miners, explorers and prospectors. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Mining? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Manufacturing and Oil & Gas. Also consider subscribing to our Mining - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Provincial Government News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• Industry and Technology Committee studies tariff impacts and supply chains: On June 8, the Industry and Technology Committee will meet from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to review draft reports on the economic and supply chain effects of U.S. tariffs on Canadian metallurgical and manufacturing sectors. Witnesses will also address financial fraud in Canada.
• National Defence Committee considers report on critical minerals and security: The National Defence Committee will meet in camera on June 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to review a draft report examining the nexus between national security, national defence, and Canada’s critical minerals sector.
• Natural Resources Committee examines electrification and domestic energy security: On June 9, the Natural Resources Committee hosts witnesses discussing Canada’s electrification, energy self-sufficiency, and domestic energy security from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The witness panel includes academic and industry representatives.
• Senate Indigenous Peoples Committee studies duty to consult and mining: On June 9, the Senate Indigenous Peoples Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. to examine matters related to duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous Peoples. The Mining Association of Canada’s Vice President of Regulatory and Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Land Management Resource Centre representatives will participate.
• Senate Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee reviews Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry: On June 11, the Senate Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to meet in camera at 8:00 a.m. to review Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry and consider a draft report.

Federal Government News

Minister Hajdu announces launch of Mining and Minerals Workforce Alliance

On June 4, Minister Patty Hajdu joined mining sector leaders in Western Shore, Nova Scotia, to launch the Mining and Minerals Workforce Alliance. Supported by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council and Mining Association of Canada, the Alliance aims to address labour shortages and skills gaps in the sector. Through industry-led collaboration, the Alliance will create strategies for workforce development, including targeted investments in training and skills programs. Employers, labour, post-secondary institutions, and Indigenous partners will participate in developing sector-specific solutions. The initiative is the first workforce alliance under a broader federal effort to improve talent pipelines for major industries and will feed into efforts to support major mining projects and align public and private investment in workforce growth.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada and Republic of Korea advance energy and critical minerals partnership

On June 2, Natural Resources Canada and Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources held bilateral meetings in Ottawa on energy and critical minerals. Both governments agreed to develop a joint plan for critical minerals stockpiling by year-end to support supply chain integration. The Geological Survey of Canada and Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources formalized research collaboration on naturally occurring hydrogen. Energy trade discussions included LNG Canada expansion, with Korea Gas Corporation expected to import at least 1.4 million tons of Canadian LNG annually for three decades from Phase II. Korea will expand imports of Canadian crude and offer preferential tariff treatment under the Canada–Korea Free Trade Agreement. These agreements are intended to support stable supply partnerships and strengthen bilateral investment in resource projects.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada invests over $4.5M in Newfoundland and Labrador energy projects

Natural Resources Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced $4.5 million in federal funding for four energy projects at the Energy NL Conference in St. John’s. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro will receive $2.6 million to support energy-saving measures in facilities reliant on diesel power. Tacora Resources Inc. will implement an ISO 50001-compliant energy management system at the Scully Mine in Wabush, while Aker Solutions Canada Inc. receives $1.2 million for feasibility studies on marine CO₂ transport and offshore storage. Angler Solutions Inc. is awarded nearly $500,000 to assess potential for an offshore carbon capture and storage hub. These investments contribute to industrial productivity and competitiveness in Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy sector.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Ministers LeBlanc and Hodgson confer with oil and gas sector ahead of CUSMA review

On June 1, Ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Tim Hodgson met with Canadian oil and gas sector leaders in Ottawa to prepare for the upcoming Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) joint review. Discussions centered on maintaining preferential North American market access for energy products, streamlining rules and easing regulatory burdens, and supporting border efficiency for cross-border operations. Sector representatives shared perspectives on regulatory certainty and competitiveness issues. The federal government signaled continued collaboration with industry and US counterparts to sustain energy partnerships that underpin North American economic growth and energy security.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Government extends consultation period for regulatory reform to accelerate major project reviews

The public engagement period for proposed reforms to Canada’s regulatory processes was extended through July 22, 2026. Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the extension, which aims to give stakeholders—including Indigenous groups, provinces, industry associations, and labour organizations—additional time to provide input. The reforms include proposals to limit federal review and decision timelines to one year after complete project information submission, intended to expedite approvals for large-scale infrastructure and resource projects. The government plans to introduce legislation in Parliament after the consultation period concludes.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Governments of Canada and Manitoba coordinate tariff-impacted workforce support

On June 5, federal and Manitoba ministers will announce an investment targeting workers and employers in sectors affected by tariffs. The event will take place at RRC Polytech’s Skilled Trades and Technology Centre in Winnipeg. The initiative is designed to assist labour market participants experiencing economic pressures stemming from trade barriers and tariffs.

Sources: www.canada.ca

StatsCan releases 2024 mining principal statistics

Statistics Canada published principal employment and financial figures for Canada’s mining industry for 2024, based on the Annual Mineral Production Survey. The tables permit industry-level analysis across national, provincial, and territorial boundaries, supplying up-to-date information on workforce and financial trends.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

New mining energy consumption data for 2024 released

Statistics Canada distributed its annual energy consumption statistics for the mining industry for 2024. The tables provide breakdowns of energy expenses and purchased energy quantities, categorized by energy type and region, facilitating sector comparisons and benchmarking of operational energy profiles.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Natural Resources Satellite Account Human Resource Module updated

The 2024 update to Statistics Canada’s Human Resources Module of the Natural Resources Satellite Account details job counts, hours worked, and wage information. The dataset is categorized by employee age, education, gender, and immigration status, furnishing sector-wide labour force characteristics according to System of National Accounts definitions.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Oil and gas capital expenditures decline in Q1 2026

Statistics Canada reported that capital spending in oil and gas extraction industries totaled $10.2 billion in the first quarter of 2026, dropping 12.6% from the preceding quarter. The report provides context for investment patterns in Canada’s resource extraction sector.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

March 2026 energy statistics show modest increases in production

Primary energy production in March 2026 rose by 0.9%, reaching 2.2 million gigajoules year-on-year. Secondary energy production increased by 2.7%, with refined petroleum products delivering the largest gains, according to Statistics Canada.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Nova Scotia launches mining roundtable to identify sector opportunities

On June 4, the Province of Nova Scotia announced a new mining roundtable reporting to the Minister of Natural Resources. The table will help identify policy, regulatory, and investment barriers and inform updates to the provincial mining strategy.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

British Columbia extends pause on new mineral claims for land-use planning

British Columbia is prolonging its pause on new mineral and placer registrations in parts of the province through January 31, 2027, to facilitate land-use planning with First Nations and stakeholder engagement. Existing tenures remain operational.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Ontario invests nearly $8 million in skills training for Northern Ontario workers

Ontario will fund three workforce training projects and a capital investment in Sudbury, aimed at supporting over 7,300 workers in mining, construction, and skilled trades. Science North’s new training centre at Dynamic Earth will train 7,000 individuals annually.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Alberta supports energy priorities with US state policymakers

Angela Pitt, MLA for Airdrie-East, is attending meetings in New Orleans with the NCSL Task Force on Energy Supply to advance Alberta’s energy objectives. The visit addresses collaborative opportunities and ties with Louisiana’s petrochemical sector.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Alberta launches $4M skilled trades training pilot with CLAC

Alberta is partnering with the Christian Labour Association of Canada on a pilot program to support skilled trades workers preparing for certification. The adaptive learning platform will be deployed over two years, targeting high-demand trades.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Government Consultations

Federal impact assessment public comment period on Crawford Nickel Project

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is accepting public comments on the draft Impact Assessment Report for the Crawford Nickel Project, an open-pit nickel-cobalt mine north of Timmins, Ontario. Comments are open through June 10.

Sources: iaac-aeic.gc.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Ottawa funds mining skills alliance to build ‘talent pipelines’: The federal government is investing in workforce development for the mining sector.
• N.S., Ottawa announce separate initiatives to boost mining industry: Nova Scotia and Ottawa introduced new programs to strengthen mining activity.
• Vancouver’s Orla Mining expects operations to resume at Mexico mine after labour ruling: Orla Mining anticipates restarting operations at its Mexican mine.
• Orla Mining says work has resumed at its Camino Rojo mine in Mexico: Labour disputes at Orla's Camino Rojo mine have been resolved.
• Consultation or 'rubber-stamping'? Proposed gold mine raises questions about Quebec's mining laws: New gold mine proposal draws scrutiny over Quebec’s consultation requirements.
• Barrick Mining weighs London listing as it negotiates Africa business sale, sources say: Barrick Mining is considering listing in London during negotiations to divest African assets.
• Federal government announces mining workforce alliance to build 'talent pipelines': Officials launch national alliance targeting industry talent needs.

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