Infographic: Adding up government spending on Quebec’s critical minerals

Quebec is unique in Canada for its strong institutional support for mining and exploration activities. It was the first jurisdiction in Canada to release a critical minerals strategy, in 2020, encouraging funding for projects in the resource-rich province to pour in from both the Canadian and U.S. governments. In these infographics, The Northern Miner takes a glimpse at which critical minerals are drawing exploration and development funding, the top recipients by project, and how government investment breaks down.

Design: James Alafriz

Lithium

Nemaska Lithium received $250 million in July 2023 from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and Investissement
Quebec to help it build and commission its Whabouchi mine and concentrator in the James Bay region.

Graphite

Nouveau Monde Graphite (TSXV: NOU; NYSE: NMG) received $18.3 million in November 2021 from Department of Natural Resources and Forestry to help it develop its Matawinie mine, 120 km north of Montreal.

Nickel

Magneto Investments Limited Partnership received $4.5 million from the federal Critical Minerals Strategy in March 2024 to help the company with technical and economical feasibility of nickel concentrate at its Dumont project, 70 km north of Val-d’Or.

Vanadium

Strategic Resources (TSX: SR) received $4.3 million from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and Investissement Quebec in March 2023 to advance its Black Rock project towards a construction decision. Located in the Chibougamau region.

Rare earths

Geomega Resources (TSXV: GMA) received $3 million from the federal Critical Minerals Strategy in March 2023 to help with its recycling and production of rare earth oxides from permanent magnet scrap. Its demonstration plant is in Longueuil, near Montreal.

Copper

Midland Exploration (TSXV: MD) received $300,000 from Quebec’s Sidex in December 2022 for exploration at its Labrador Trough project in the Nunavik region.

Others

Niobium-tantalum ($700,000); Cobalt ($382,180); Zinc ($250,000); Platinum Group Metals ($83,300).

Design: James Alafriz

The Department of Defense announced US$8.3 million on May 16, 2024 for graphite explorer and developer Lomiko Metals (TSXV: LMR; US-OTC: LMRMF) under Title III of the Defense Production Act, to help expand the industrial base for natural flake graphite in North America. Lomiko holds its prefeasibility-stage La Loutre project in southeastern Quebec.

Sources: The Northern Miner, Natural Resources Canada, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF), Diversification of Exploration Investment Partnership (Sidex), and The Société Québécoise d’exploration minière (Soquem).