Minerals strategy stakeholder engagement

Overview

From October 2020 to February 2021, stakeholders shared feedback that helped inform the development of a strategy and action plan to re-energize Alberta’s minerals sector.

Worldwide demand for metals and critical minerals is rising due to technological advancements, growing populations, and national security. Alberta needed a modernized strategy to reflect new global conditions, capitalize on our vast resource potential, and get Albertans back to work.

Renewing Alberta’s Mineral Future strategy and action plan was released in November 2021. It was developed with input from various stakeholders and First Nations, Métis, and Indigenous organizations. It is also in alignment with the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (released in 2019) and its Action Plan (released in 2021) and the Canada-U.S. joint action plan on critical minerals collaboration.

Timeline

Open

October 2020 to February 2021
Results under review
Completed

November 4, 2021

Who is listening

Ministry of Energy

Input received

Stakeholder engagement

Key stakeholders submitted feedback online and through roundtable discussions.

An online survey took place from October 13 to November 4, 2020, with additional roundtable discussions on January 13 and 20, 2021. The deadline for final submission was February 3, 2021.

Input collected helped:

contribute to the development of a provincial Minerals Strategy and Action Plan
explore regulatory options for Alberta’s metallic and industrial minerals sector
review and modernize metallic and industrial minerals tenure arrangements

Engagement participants included:

Indigenous groups
government agencies
industries
environment non-governmental organizations
research institutes
municipalities
financial advisors
land and mineral owners

Outcomes

The Renewing Alberta’s Mineral Future strategy and action plan was released on November 4, 2021. The strategy is a key component of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, furthering work to strengthen and diversify the province’s economy by helping to meet increasing worldwide demand for metals and critical minerals.

Bill 82, the Minerals Resource Development Act, was also introduced on November 4, 2021, and was fully proclaimed on February 28, 2024. The act enables a one-window approach to regulatory oversight of metallic and industrial mineral development.

Mineral Advisory Council

The Mineral Advisory Council was established to provide strategic advice, guidance, and recommendations while government gathered feedback from stakeholders to design a Minerals Strategy and Action Plan for Alberta.

The Mineral Advisory Council:

provided advice on planned targeted stakeholder engagement throughout the process
solicited feedback to inform the province’s minerals strategy, action plan and regulatory options
provided industry and policy advice and recommendations

The council’s advisory work is now complete.

Council members

Council members include experts in geology, Indigenous relations, resource development, regulatory and environmental affairs, and investor and industry perspectives.

Stephanie Autut

Currently the executive director of the Nunavut Water Board, Autut has more than 23 years of experience in environmental and land use planning and sustainable resource development legislation and regulation. She spent 11 years as Executive Director of the Nunavut Impact Review Board, and was an active participant in the legislative working group that developed the unique legislative framework that governs responsible resource development, environmental impact assessment, and land use planning in Nunavut.

Bob McLeod

McLeod served 2 terms as Premier of the Northwest Territories, retiring in 2019. His 12-year political career followed 30 years in the public service focusing on intergovernmental and Indigenous affairs, resource development, mining and regulatory reform. A graduate of NAIT and the University of Alberta, McLeod wrote his thesis on Aboriginal self-government. With his strong background in mineral development, economic diversification, and regulatory affairs, he brings a legislative and policy lens to the panel.

Allison Rippin Armstrong

With more than 25 years experience in regulatory processes and environmental compliance, Rippin Armstrong has worked with government, Indigenous organizations, regulatory agencies and resource companies, through her work with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Chambers of Mines, and the Yukon Women in Mining board.

Gordon Stothart

The president and CEO of IAMGOLD, and current Chairman of the Mining Association of Canada, Stothart has more than 30 years experience in the international mining industry, in operational, project, and business development management roles. He brings an industry perspective to the panel with his extensive knowledge of effective mineral policy frameworks across the world.

Eira Thomas

The president, CEO and co-founder of Lucara Diamond Corporation, and a current director of Suncor Energy, Thomas is a Canadian geologist with more than 25 years of experience in the Canadian mining industry. She has worked and invested millions of dollars in mineral projects across Canada and the globe and brings the perspective of both the entrepreneur and the geologist to the panel.