Canada’s Role in the Critical Minerals...

With Expertise from Cody Ryckman, Innovation and Technology Lead for Stantec’s Mining, Minerals, and Metals team. Compiled by Paul Adair, Staff Writer.

Critical minerals are the building blocks of tomorrow, and Canada is uniquely poised to play a strategic role supplying these essential materials that power electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and high-tech industries around the world.

Canadian Mining Magazine (CMM) recently had the opportunity to speak with Cody Ryckman, the Innovation and Technology Lead for Stantec’s Mining, Minerals, and Metals team. Cody also co-leads the Critical Minerals team at Stantec, so we welcomed his thoughts on market trends and how Canada is positioning itself to become a global powerhouse in the critical minerals space.

Editor’s Note: This Q&A is a sneak peek into the Fall 2025 print issue of Canadian Mining Magazine. If you work in Canada’s mining sector, you can subscribe to CMM for free at https://canadianminingmagazine.com/subscribe/.

CMM: The demand for critical minerals is growing around the world. From your perspective at Stantec, what do you see driving that demand and how has that demand evolved over time? 

Ryckman: The global demand for critical minerals is very unlikely to subside any time soon. The world has an insatiable thirst for economic growth, and the prosperity of people is desirable worldwide.

In addition to base-demand, there is also an increase in demand being driven by the stated desire of developed nations to accelerate the energy transition through the development and deployment of clean technologies This is especially true for energy generation and storage technologies, where minerals like lithium, nickel, copper, graphite, and rare earth elements are essential. However, what’s shifted recently has been geopolitical tensions and war, which has driven urgency in the desire to ensure that national and economic security interests are being addressed. These circumstances are driving demand for critical minerals even further.   

CMM: Given this expanding demand, what trends do you see on the horizon when it comes to Canada and its critical minerals resources?

Ryckman: Coming out of the recent G7 Summit, which was hosted in my backyard of Kananaskis, Alberta, I was encouraged to see a strengthened desire to collaborate around shared national and economic security interests. It’s readily apparent that no individual country can be successful long-term without alignment and collaboration. Simply put, we’re better together.

Given Canada’s position as a global leader in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, I’m sure we’ll play a prominent role in advancing action in the areas noted in a recent press release by the Prime Minister’s Office: building standards-based markets, mobilizing capital, investing in the development of public-private partnerships, and innovation.

CMM: So, what are the advantages Canada has when it comes to supplying the critical minerals the world needs? 

Ryckman: Canada has many advantages on the world stage. First and foremost, we have a developed industry with world class mineral resource wealth, which means we are readily able to supply the world. We’re also effective at managing risk, with strong ESG credentials recognized globally. We have also an abundance of clean energy available to us, which is a key consideration when striving to establish low-carbon, sustainable, and resilient supply chains.

And finally, we’re constantly innovating. While we always expect government to ‘move a little faster,’ Canadian governments at all levels are playing a very vital role in establishing and funding extensive research and development, investing in innovation hubs, and commercializing emerging technologies to keep Canada leading in the sector or – at the very least – abreast of the competition. All these advantages contribute to Canada being a global supplier of choice.

CMM: What about when it comes to regulation, permitting, or opportunities? Is Canada currently a good jurisdiction in which to do business – and what needs to happen to become even better?

Ryckman: Canada is currently a good jurisdiction. But there is always opportunity for improvement, and we should be aspiring to progress beyond the status quo.

We often discuss the need for reform and improvement in terms of regulation, harmonizing community / stakeholder engagement, permitting, and enabling infrastructure. And those are all important and worthy endeavours. But what I would like to see is Canada capitalizing on a more vertically integrated value chain wherever it’s economically and technically feasible.

From an economic and national interest perspective, we need to determine where we can, and where we should, invest domestically to remain a global leader or become one in a specific commodity or value chain. We should also be asking where we should invest abroad – friendshore or nearshore – with allied nations as part of our strategy instead of trying to compete with the export of domestically produced goods.  

CMM: What are the challenges Canada currently faces related to exploiting its critical mineral resources and / or getting them to market?

Ryckman: Major challenges that come to mind are global competition creating uncertainty in some commodity markets; remote deposit locations requiring infrastructure investment by local, provincial, and / or federal governments in concert with investment decisions by the private sector; a lengthy and complex permitting process that requires reform; strategic technology gaps; and skilled labour shortages.

I was recently in Washington, D.C. for Benchmark’s Giga+ event, and the prominent communal message was the role of the United State’s government in addressing uncertainty created through shifting policy, tax incentives, supply chain disruption, and global disadvantages driving commodity price instability. Notionally, the same can be said of the Canadian Government’s responsibility in our domestic market.  

CMM: Was there anything from the recent federal election here in Canada that caught your attention, related to critical minerals? The phrase ‘global critical minerals superpower’ was tossed around a lot during the campaign – is that something achievable for Canada?

Ryckman: Well, we are certainly fortunate to be endowed with the natural resources and the know-how necessary to form the foundation of a ‘global critical minerals superpower’, so it’s accurate in concept and potential.

CMM: Is it attainable though?

Ryckman: I like to think so. If we move from election promises to action swiftly, and accelerate project timelines, it will instill new confidence in a weary market, and we’ll be on the right track to attract the investment required to make that phrase a reality. I’m looking forward to additional ‘nation-building projects’ announcements from the new Prime Minister and our provincial premiers that will directly or indirectly have positive impacts on the mining industry – and that we quickly get on with the building aspect.

CMM: What do you think the future holds for critical minerals and Canada’s place in that space? Are you optimistic about the direction we are headed?

Ryckman: I’m excited for the future of mining in Canada as we continue to position ourselves as a stable, reliable, sustainable supplier of the critical minerals the word needs to thrive. I’m very passionate about one of the world’s oldest industries, as well as ‘small town’ mining history in Canada. So, I really like hearing Canada’s mining industry being talked about in a positive manner both federally and provincially, and by society in general.

While mining hasn’t always been judged favourably – and perhaps justifiably so – mining has undeniably played a significant role in unlocking our country’s economic potential from coast-to-coast-to-coast. And it has contributed significantly to the wealth, prosperity, and convenience society enjoys today. I think that’s something we sometimes lose sight of.

I believe we can rise to the occasion and answer the world’s call for critical minerals while simultaneously shaping a more sustainable future for generations to come. It’s our opportunity to seize.