Can you give an overview of the Canadian Critical Minerals and Materials Alliance (C2M2A) and the reason for its foundation?
C2M2A is an offspring of the Canadian Rare Earth Element Network (CREEN). In 2011 much of the critical material discussions were around rare earths with battery materials falling under the rare earth umbrella. What was not fully appreciated or understood is the unique nature of these smaller, non-commoditized elements that fed the battery, permanent magnet and other technology supply chains. The critical mineral evolution from 2011 to 2021 has led to a broader interest, especially in the downstream material processing of all the different feedstocks. Today, C2M2A is focused on providing research, information, industry-government advocacy, education, conferences, workshops and articles aimed at building stronger awareness of the importance of critical material supply chains.
Rare earth and critical mineral supply chains are remaining relatively unknown compared to base metal supply chains and are also longer than just sorting, grinding, and smelting. In the mid-1980s, China already captured the raw material market on rare earths, evolved into capturing the semi processed materials market, then products such as magnets, until completing the supply chain by selling home appliances, computers, and high-tech automotive components, etc. China saw it as an economic engine on how to lever a commodity. Canada has always been a strong mining and metallurgical country, but resources were taken out of the ground and given to somebody else for processing. Times have changed and as we are now finding criticality, if you are not both mining and value-added processing, and you give it to somebody else to do so, your stuck buying already much more valued added finished products. This puts our economic security at risk, and as such are focused on becoming self-sufficient throughout the entire supply chain. C2M2A is thus focused on creating ‘demand pull’ strategies to replace Canada’s traditional ‘supply push’ approaches.
How is C2M2A encouraging mining companies to work within an ESG framework?
As an industrial sector more and more Canadian companies, including juniors are issuing ESG reports, and we can see the improvements in terms of production, planning, water consumption, and carbon footprints. One of the reporting platforms used by many is the Mining Association of Canada’s TSM (Towards Sustainable Mining), a platform now adopted by some 12 countries. We have a challenge where pockets of the general public do not actively embrace mining because it has a footprint, however when seen with a broader perspective mined minerals and processed materials are necessary for green technologies – thus offering us all, globally, to be better off in net terms. Mining does have an impact on the environment, but we have to acknowledge that with advanced technologies the sustainability of the industry has improved significantly, and that we are mining for minerals which are necessary in our everyday lives and will contribute to an overall greener future.
How is C2M2A encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship within the Canadian context?
We promote innovation and entrepreneurship by conceptualizing, designing, prototyping, and testing novel solutions to complex problems, with an eye on productive ways to champion people, processes, regulatory instruments and technology - all in order to improve Canada’s opportunities to secure significant value.
We are focused on building alliances with downstream suppliers, international companies, trade officials and others, contributing as agents of transformative change by providing a collaborative platform to forge strategic partnerships where industry can learn and share ideas.
Canada has been very active on the international front and secured seats at the ISO standards development, REIA, and NATO tables around environment, traceability, and sustainability. Canada has also been at the forefront of pressing standards forward on the sustainability front on critical materials across the full supply chain, and has been working with the EU, US and other trading partners raising awareness and providing an input to collaborative policy solutions.
Can you elaborate on C2M2A’s relation to and impact on governmental policy?
We advise both on a macro scale in a geopolitical context, as well as from technical perspectives. Regulation must not only encourage mining and manufacturing companies to establish a presence in Canada, but also push a commitment to buy Canadian made materials. We have also been active working with our trade policy makers to build strategic national and international alliances and the best import/export practices. As a small country, we e to realize that we cannot do it all, that is fully fleshing out all supply chains – and therefore encourage and facilitate the establishment of alliances for each to be able to focus on its expertise while still economically benefiting Canadians Canada should focus on getting the right mineral development and upstream processing in place, which will then drive the economic growth of the country.
What is the most important thing C2M2A has achieved over the past few years?
We have demonstrated that Canada can punch way over its perceived weight class, and internationally is at the forefront of sustainability and responsible mining. The C2M2A will continue to create awareness of the full critical materials supply chain and the importance thereof.
