Recap: Critical Minerals Council Strategic Workshop

January 31, 2026

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In January 2026, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Critical Minerals Council convened a Strategic Workshop on the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan at the PwC offices in Toronto, in collaboration with PwC and the University of Calgary. The half-day session brought together senior industry representatives, policy experts and academic contributors to develop consensus-driven, industry-informed recommendations for the Government of Canada aligned with G7 priorities and complementary domestic initiatives.

The workshop focused on strengthening supply chain resilience and advancing coordinated action across allied economies, with particular emphasis on mobilizing private and public capital and fostering strategic partnerships to scale critical minerals projects. Participants also examined approaches to strategic stockpiling as a tool to enhance economic and national security, while improving preparedness for global supply disruptions.

In addition, the session provided an opportunity to reflect on recent federal policy developments and assess their implications for the sector, including the federal Budget, the Sovereign Fund, the First and Last Mile Fund, and investments outlined in the Defence Industrial Strategy. Discussions also considered how Canada can better align industrial policy tools with international commitments and evolving G7 priorities.

The workshop built on recommendations from the Chamber’s B7 Communiqué, as well as insights from the 2025 Conference on Critical Minerals and Materials in Chicago and the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Toronto. PwC led the facilitation of the session, while Professor Robert Johnson of the University of Calgary served as lead author of the resulting roadmap, which will inform future policy recommendations and stakeholder engagement.

Opening Remarks and Presentation | Government of Canada Priorities

The first session featured opening remarks delivered virtually by Isabella Chan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Lands and Minerals Sector at Natural Resources Canada and Canada’s Special Envoy to the Critical Minerals Production Alliance. She outlined current government priorities in the critical minerals sector, including domestic policy objectives and ongoing collaboration with international partners, and emphasized the value of industry input in shaping effective and responsive policy.

This was followed by a presentation from Andrew Ghattas, Senior Director at Natural Resources Canada, who provided an update on key federal initiatives and priorities. His remarks highlighted recent policy developments, funding mechanisms and strategic investments aimed at strengthening Canada’s critical minerals value chains and advancing the country’s role in global supply chains and allied cooperation.

Industry Roundtable | PwC Presentation and Roundtable Discussions on G7 Critical Minerals Priorities

The afternoon began with a presentation by Michael Dobner, National Leader of the Economics & Policy Practice at PwC Canada. Drawing on existing PwC research, he outlined key obstacles to investment in mining development, summarized critical gaps across the sector and presented PwC’s recommendations to improve investment conditions and support the scaling of Canada’s critical minerals industry.

The bulk of the afternoon was then dedicated to opening roundtable discussions designed to facilitate candid and open exchange between participants. These sessions focused on two core themes identified as priority areas for further industry input in support of the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan.

The first theme examined approaches to mobilizing private and public capital and fostering strategic partnerships across the critical minerals value chain. Discussions explored how to better align investment, de-risk projects, and accelerate collaboration between industry, government and international partners to support scalable and resilient supply chains.

The second theme focused on mechanisms to secure long-term access to strategically important critical minerals in support of G7 priorities. Participants considered tools and policy approaches that could strengthen supply security, enhance coordination among allied economies and ensure stable access to materials essential for energy transition, defence and advanced manufacturing.

What We Heard

The discussions from the workshop were captured in a PwC-produced What We Heard Report, which summarizes the key themes, insights and perspectives shared throughout the day. In addition, a Roadmap authored by Professor Robert Johnson (RJ) was developed and shared with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), outlining industry-informed recommendations and proposed actions to support the objectives of the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan and inform ongoing policy development.

The full photo gallery can be found here.