Recap: Industry Roundtable and Reception on Margins of the 17th Conference on Critical Minerals and Materials

June 20, 2025

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Canada hosted the 17th Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals (CCMM) from June 17–19, 2025, during which the Critical Minerals Council convened an Industry Roundtable on June 19 focused on the current landscape of mining in Canada. The roundtable brought together key stakeholders from government, industry and finance to address two of the sector’s most pressing challenges: permitting and access to financing.

Participants engaged in focused, solution-oriented discussions on practical strategies and best practices to streamline permitting processes and improve financing pathways for mining projects. The exchanges reflected a range of perspectives from across the value chain, with an emphasis on identifying actionable approaches to support project development and investment.

The insights gathered from the session were synthesized by the Canadian Chamber into a set of recommendations, which will be shared with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and relevant federal ministries to inform ongoing policy development and strengthen the enabling environment for mining investment and growth in Canada.

Opening Remarks

The session kicked off with remarks from Matthew Holmes, Senior Vice President at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, who set the stage for the conversation by emphasizing the importance of international collaboration and coordinated action to strengthen Canada’s critical minerals value chains and long-term economic resilience.

CCMM Recap and Q&A

We then heard from José Benchetrit, Senior Policy Advisor in the International Affairs and Trade Division within the Lands and Minerals Sector at Natural Resources Canada, who provided an overview of the behind-closed-doors government-to-government and government-to-industry conversations that took place during the CCMM.

Industry Roundtable Sessions: Financing, Collaboration and Permitting

We then held two industry roundtable discussions. The first, focused on Financing & Collaboration, was moderated by David Anonychuk of SGS, and the second, focused on Permitting, was moderated by Photinie Koutsavlis of the Mining Association of Canada. Both sessions featured candid, solution-oriented conversations aimed at identifying actionable approaches to address key barriers facing the sector.

Government Panel: Privy Council Office and Natural Resources Canada

The final session featured a panel discussion with Laura Martin, Director of Stakeholders and Projects (Clean Growth) at the Privy Council Office, and Rinaldo Jeanty, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Lands and Minerals Sector at Natural Resources Canada. The discussion provided high-level reflections on the day’s conversations, including priorities for advancing clean growth, strengthening coordination across government and supporting the development of Canada’s critical minerals sector.

Closing Remarks

The event concluded with remarks from Bryan N. Detchou, Senior Director, Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted the importance of continued international collaboration and the Critical Minerals Council’s role in convening stakeholders to advance shared priorities.

The full photo gallery can be found here.

Reception

At the conclusion of the 17th CCMM, the Critical Minerals Council hosted a reception that brought together more than 130 industry and government representatives from all G7 countries, as well as Australia and South Korea. The gathering provided an opportunity for delegates and Canadian stakeholders to strengthen relationships, expand professional networks and continue discussions initiated throughout the conference.

The event featured brief remarks from Detchou, Marcella Munro of Teck Resources and Co-Chair of the Critical Minerals Council, and Koutsavlis. Their remarks highlighted the value of collaboration across industry and government, as well as the importance of international partnerships in advancing critical minerals priorities.

The remainder of the evening was dedicated to networking, allowing participants to build connections, exchange perspectives and further the relationships established throughout the conference. The reception celebrated the collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and international engagement fostered during CCMM while reinforcing the importance of continued cooperation among allies and partners to support resilient critical minerals supply chains and shared economic and strategic objectives.

The full photo gallery can be found here.