Probing infant deaths for vaccine link was proper police work, detective maintains

Jason Unrau
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Probing infant deaths for vaccine link was proper police work, detective maintains

Lawyers for the Ottawa Police Service challenged detective Helen Grus’ story that she was acting on legitimate police business when she pursued “a mere hunch” that a spike in local sudden infant deaths could be related to the COVID vaccines.

“She had a hunch, not a mere hunch,” said Grus’ lawyer, Bath-Sheba van den Berg, objecting to the police service lawyer’s parsing of Grus’ testimony.

Grus took the stand last week in the disciplinary hearing that has lasted nine months so far.

Vanessa Stewart, serving as a de facto prosecutor, replied that Grus was “an experienced police officer who has indicated…on the record all the serious cases that she’s been involved in.”

“So for me to go through the spectrum of grounds (for an investigation) that exists should be a fairly simple procedure, if we can just get through it without an objection every single time.”

Earlier in the week Grus testified that, days before being put on unpaid leave for declining a COVID vaccine, she told a colleague that the uptick “should be flagged and monitored.” 

The OPS case against Grus is that she violated the code of conduct by using police resources for an “unsanctioned special project” based on her personal beliefs. An aggravating factor includes the absence of any notes for a Jan. 30, 2022 telephone call to the father of a deceased child inquiring about the mother’s vaccine status.

Grus stands accused of discreditable conduct for what she testified last week was a “tip of the knife” information gathering exercise based on her suspicion of a link between COVID vaccines and an increase in local sudden infant deaths.

As a detective in the sex assault and child abuse (SACA) unit, investigating deaths of children five-and-under was part of Grus’ job but when immediate superiors forbade her from talking about COVID or COVID vaccines in early 2022 just weeks before the police vaccine mandate deadline of Jan. 31, Grus took her concerns to the top.

During cross-examination, Ottawa police counsel Vanessa Stewart remained adamant that personal motivations guided Grus’ probe and suggested that the 20-year veteran pursued her “mere hunch” contrary to conditions placed on her.

“This particular (infant death file query) coincides with the personal research on a personal USB stick, not an OPS stick, all of which is admitted,” said Stewart, as she pressed Grus on her activities.

Grus denied she broke any police policy regarding her queries of the infant death investigation files or her research on COVID vaccines while acknowledging that looming vaccine mandates were taking a personal toll.

Earlier in the week, Grus testified about several officers who suffered post-jab injuries and that high-ranking officers were well-aware of this weeks before the mandate deadline. She also wrote a mass email in September 2021 asking whether the police force would be liable for any negative health outcomes related to the COVID vaccine and for this advocacy had become a polarizing figure.

“We were forced to take the vaccine to keep our jobs. So is it personal? Yes, because I’m losing my livelihood. But in the context of policing, I was an able-bodied police officer ready and willing to work,” said Grus.  “But I wanted informed consent. I had a right to that. And so I collected this information.”

Seizing on Grus’ earlier testimony that criminal negligence may have occurred given that public health authorities told the public that the COVID vaccines were safe and effective, Stewart suggested several times during cross-examination that the detective had already “launched the investigation” and was not forthright with police brass on this point.

Again, Grus pushed back.

“My bringing up the increased baby deaths is because babies lost their lives, families lost their babies – innocent families, loving parents, lost their babies. That’s why I brought up the concerning rise in (SIDS)  investigations,” she said. “What I stated is that we need to keep track of what’s going on.”

Citing a twin defence of reasonable care and due diligence, Grus’ counsel van den Berg argued last week that regardless of whether COVID vaccines are responsible for the infant deaths, her client acted within her authority as a detective-constable and in good faith based on an empirical increase of SIDS cases that Ottawa police investigated in a calendar year. 

By Friday afternoon when Renwick adjourned the tribunal, parties could only agree that at least another week’s worth of hearing days are required to finish cross-examination and respective closing arguments. This is before Renwick can even contemplate his verdict. 

“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Renwick said, even after OPS lawyers told him their earliest availability could be December. 

Additionally, police co-counsel Jessica Barrow gave notice about a portion of their cross-examination Ottawa police wants done in-camera,inviting media to make submissions at a future, undetermined date.

Renwick also added into evidence a sealed copy of Grus’ unredacted duty book containing her final entry on Jan. 30, 2022 before being suspended. The book was subject of a Dec. 8 appellate court ruling which kicked the entire matter back to the tribunal. Van den Berg had sought judicial review of Renwick’s decision preventing Grus access to her book, which she says could contain exculpatory evidence.

Bank of Canada cuts interest rate for first time since 2020

Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
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Bank of Canada cuts interest rate for first time since 2020

The Bank of Canada has cut its key interest for the first time in four years.

The central bank announced a 0.25% rate cut Wednesday morning  as it continues to try to stabilize markets and keep inflation in check.

The decision to reduce interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point reduction makes the Bank of Canada the first G7 central bank to begin its easing cycle. 

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem dropped the benchmark overnight rate to 4.75% on Wednesday, a decision that has been widely anticipated by economists for some time. 

“We’ve come a long way in the fight against inflation. And our confidence that inflation will continue to move closer to the two per cent target has increased over recent months,” said Macklem.

Officials with the central bank say they’re more confident that inflation will reach the 2% target and that if progress continues, it’s “reasonable to expect further cuts.” 

“With further and more sustained evidence underlying inflation is easing, monetary policy no longer needs to be as restrictive,” said Macklem.

Canada’s economic growth resumed in the first quarter this year after being stalled in the second half of 2023. 

While GDP growth was slower than expected, consumption growth remained steady at 3% and business investment and housing activity also saw an increase. 

According to labour market data, businesses are continuing to hire but employment still lags behind the pace of the working age population.

Consumer price inflation fell to 2.7% in April after peaking in 2022, however, shelter price inflation, which relates to costs surrounding housing, remains high.

“With continued evidence that underlying inflation is easing…monetary policy no longer needs to be as restrictive,” reads a Bank of Canada release. 

“Recent data has increased our confidence that inflation will continue to move towards the 2% target. Nonetheless, risks to the inflation outlook remain.”

The Bank of Canada says it will be closely watching inflation and the balance between supply and demand in the economy, along with wages and corporate pricing.

The Bank of Canada cited global tensions as a potential risk to further cuts, along with faster-than-expected rise in home prices and wage-growth in relation to productivity. 

“If we lower our policy interest rate too quickly, we could jeopardize the progress we’ve made,” said Macklem.

The Bank of Canada’s decision to cut interest rates comes one day before the European Central Bank is expected to announce lower borrowing costs. 

The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target will be July 24,at which time the central bank will also publish its next full outlook on inflation, including risks to the projection.

The Daily Brief | Which MPs worked on behalf of a foreign state?

Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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The Daily Brief | Which MPs worked on behalf of a foreign state?

A shocking new parliamentary report warned that some elected Canadian officials are knowingly assisting foreign state actors engaging in political interference, most notably working on behalf of China and India.

Plus, economists predict Canada could boost its GDP by over $500 billion if it digs into its critical mineral reserves.

And one Conservative MP wants to see Anthony Fauci face consequences after admitting to the fact that his public health Covid-19 pandemic decrees were not rooted in science.

Tune into the Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Lindsay Shepherd!

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Francois Legault calls for “significant reduction” in “explosive” immigration

Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
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Francois Legault calls for “significant reduction” in “explosive” immigration

Quebec’s social safety net will collapse if hyper-immigration levels aren’t restrained, Premier Francois Legault warns.

Legault said his province can no longer keep up with its social services as a result of the “explosion” of immigration it’s been faced with over the past several years.

While being interviewed on a 98.5 FM radio show, Legault said that Quebec had become strained by the number of migrants it has had to take in and that Montrealers were beginning to feel less safe as a rippling effect of the province’s mass influx of people. 

Polls indicating that Montrealers were feeling less safe were partly in response to a supervised injection site operating near a local elementary school. 

Legault responded by saying that people would be unhappy with the location of a supervised injection centre no matter where it was operating but that, “in the end, the problem is that there is an explosion in the number of homeless, of people with mental health problems.” 

Many asylum seekers who come to Canada often wind up staying in homeless shelters because they have nowhere else to go, they account for about 30% of the occupancy at shelters in Toronto. 

He then added, “and you have to make a certain connection with the explosion in the number of asylum seekers who come here because they want to improve their quality of life.”

Quebec takes the lion’s share of total migrants who come to Canada, with the province receiving 65,000 of the 144,000 would-be refugees who entered Canada last year.

“It’s not those people who are the problem, but when we look at temporary immigration, we are at 560,000. That’s not the fault of the immigrants, that’s the fault of the federal government and places huge pressure on our mental health services, homelessness (services), social assistance, education — everything.”

The premier stressed the point that the current figure of temporary immigrants Canada was accepting was the equivalent of Quebec’s capital city. 

“560,000 people is the equivalent of (the population) of Quebec City … these people need care — health, mental health … there are … a lot of children who need teachers. It leads to a crisis in housing — 560,000 people is the equivalent of 200,000 housing units,” he said.

Another grievance of Legault’s was the fact that “about one-third” of the 560,000 temporary immigrants who are residing in Montreal “don’t speak French,” which the premier argued was “accelerating the decline of French. So we absolutely have to convince the federal government to act quickly.”

Legault threatened to hold a “referendum” on immigration if the federal government did not take steps to reduce the number of temporary immigrants entering the province last month. 

The province also demanded that the Trudeau government reimburse Quebec $1 billion in costs spent on social services for migrants.

The premier said he intends to address this issue of Quebec’s jurisdiction regarding immigration with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this month.

“The federal (government) has got to stop this explosion in the number of temporary immigrants,” said Legault. “It isn’t a question of our not being welcoming. It’s not a question of our blaming (immigrants). It’s just that the number has got to the level where we’re no longer able keep up … At the moment there is no housing, no capacity in health and education to serve all of those people.”

When asked how many immigrants would be acceptable for the province, Legault responded by saying “a significant reduction” would be needed for services to be re-established to function properly. 

Mentioning gay rights violations in Palestine is “pinkwashing”: U of T protesters

Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
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Mentioning gay rights violations in Palestine is “pinkwashing”: U of T protesters

Protesters encamped at the University of Toronto say anybody who points out gay rights issues in Palestinian territories is working on behalf of Zionist colonizers.

The protesters shared a post by the group Jewish Voice for Peace on Instagram, which called any Israel supporter who brings attention to human rights violations against gays in Palestine “pink-washers.”

Examples of “pinkwashing” include pointing to the beheading of asylum seekers because of their sexual orientation or the criminalization of “sexual and gender diversity” instead of only focusing on Israel’s actions in its war with Hamas.

The protesters at the “People’s Circle for Palestine,” illegally encamped on U of T property, think so anyway.

The group shared images from an “educational” piece by one of their allies called “How is pinkwashing a form of colonial violence.”

The groups posit that Israel uses the gay refugees it takes in from Gaza and the West Bank to make itself look better than the countries that those “gender and sexually diverse” people are fleeing from.

According to the protesters, It’s all part of Israel’s plan to avert international gaze from its “oppression of Palestinians.”

“This strategy erases, alienates, and isolates queer and trans-Palestinians, driving a wedge between them and their communities and perpetuating the dangerous myth that they should “run into their colonizer’s arms,” the post said.

“The pinkwashing narrative, which portrays civilized colonizers triumphing over ‘backwards natives,’ is rooted in racist, anti-Palestinian rhetoric and draws on old colonial tropes.”

The post argued that it is Israel and its supporters who, by focusing their attention on human rights abuses and anti-gay culture in Gaza and the West Bank, are dividing gays from their Palestinian community.

“Pinkwashing isolates queer Palestinians from their own communities by using colonial divide-and-conquer strategies that exacerbate internal divisions and existing forms of patriarchal and capitalist violence,” the group said.

True North contacted the group to learn what it meant by these forms of violence that they say exist in Palestinian culture but did not receive a response.

“Pinkwashing warps the reality of queer youth by telling them that their families hate them and that their communities are unsafe,” the post continued.

According to an article about Israel granting LGBT Palestinians asylum, the country was home to 90 LGBT Palestinian asylum seekers in June 2022.

One of those asylum seekers testified at Israel’s legislative building, the Knesset, describing how his family had tried to kill him for the crime of being gay.

However, the anti-Israel protesters believed that Israel was incapable of helping anyone from Gaza or the West Bank due to its “colonial” relationship with the region.

“By promoting the myth of queer refuge in Israel, pinkwashing reframes the dynamic from colonized and colonizer to victim and saviour,” the post said. “As if a colonial state could also provide salvation to the very people it’s colonizing and displacing.”

The group used a report from Al-Qaws, a “queer” Palestinian group, as its source for their Instagram infographic slide. However, it went slightly off script when referencing “capitalist violence” in the region and some other points.

“Pinkwashing silences the presence and power of the Palestinian queer movement. This systematic erasure of progressive and politicized queer voices serves the colonizer’s narrative that queer Palestinians are alone, rejected and have no collective agency,” the protesters said in the post.

“Yet the Palestinian queer movement is an integral part of Palestinian society and the anti-colonial struggle, making it the most formidable challenger to pinkwashing.”

In the report, Al-Qaws only claimed that it “viewed” itself as an integral part of Palestinian society.

In 2019, the Palestinian Authority, which rules over the West Bank, banned Al-Qaws from operating in its territory.

It said the gay rights group’s actions “infringe upon the higher principles and values of Palestinian society.”

The group said that this statement triggered a wave of hate messages, including death threats.

Al-Qaws, which is based out of Haifa, Israel, works in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Ramallah, among others, and has said they’ve received similar threats and hate mail for other events they advertised.

According to the Times of Israel, homosexuality is considered taboo but not illegal in the West Bank. But in Hamas-ruled Gaza, it is a crime that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Clean tech Crown corporation blasted for questionable payments, conflicts of interest 

Noah Jarvis, True North Wire
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Clean tech Crown corporation blasted for questionable payments, conflicts of interest 

Millions in shady payments by a Crown corporation were scrutinized by the federal financial watchdog in a recent report. 

The Crown corporation tasked with funding clean emission technology called Sustainable Development Technology Canada had distributed tens of millions of dollars to ineligible companies and businesses that had conflicts of interest with SDTC’s Board of Directors.

These findings come from a recently released report by the auditor general who found rampant misconduct and mismanagement at SDTC since 2017.

The report reaffirms many of the problems critics suspected SDTC would have. 

True North had previously reported on a leaked report commissioned by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada that found SDTC had systemic problems with granting millions of dollars to unfitting companies, conflict of interests in the companies they were funding, and a toxic workplace culture in which whistleblower purges were frequent. 

The auditor general’s office analyzed 58 out of the 226 projects SDTC had approved for funding since March 2017, and they found that 10 of the 58 projects approved for funding were ineligible.

SDTC had an agreement with the federal department ISED in which the clean tech fund was given specific guidelines outlining the types of companies and the conditions they must meet to be eligible for funding.

Of the several “streams” of funding the auditor general analyzed, two “ecosystem” projects were awarded money inappropriately, seven “start-up” projects, and one “scale-up” project, amounting to $59 million in ill-approved funds, $51 million of which had been distributed.

Since the auditor general’s office had only looked at 58 of the projects, they estimate that 1 in 10 start-up and scale-up projects that were awarded money were ineligible. 

In the original report commissioned by ISED, it was found that in a sample of 19 companies that had been awarded multi-million dollar grants, three of them had violated SDTC’s contribution agreement. According to a whistleblower who spoke to True North, these three companies were GHGSat, Semios, and Miovision, which were awarded $20,000,000, $17,000,000, and $16,580,000 respectively.

The auditor general’s report also found 90 instances in which SDTC’s Board of Directors had violated conflict of interest policies by voting on or participating in discussions about a company they had previously declared a conflict of interest with.

25 of the instances come from the meeting minutes of the Board of Director meetings and meetings of the Project Review Committee – the committee that approves funding projects before the board does. 

The other 63 instances come from two votes on portfolio-wide COVID-19 relief funding, where directors voted to approve funding that would go to companies that they had previously declared they had a conflict of interest with. 

These 90 cases were connected to projects that totalled nearly $76 million in funding from taxpayers. 

In general, the auditor general found that between March 2017 and December 2023, five board directors had business or personal relationships that had the appearance of an inability to perform their duties in the best interest of SDTC. 

The report also noted that a spouse of one of SDTC’s senior managers was a partner at a human resources recruiting firm that SDTC uses in its process of appointing new members to the board of directors. 

True North had previously reported that while sitting on SDTC’s board, several companies in which members had interests in received millions of dollars in grants

The auditor general also found that SDTC had not been breaking the law by failing to adhere to its enabling legislation. 

Specifically, SDTC is required to have at least 15 Board of Directors but has failed to fill vacant seats in a reasonable time, frequently taking no action. 

The auditor general not only places blame at SDTC’s feet for its misconduct but also blames ISED, the department responsible for SDTC’s administration, for overseeing a disaster with little concern. 

The auditor general slammed ISED for failing to sufficiently monitor whether or not SDTC was complying with its contribution agreements, using public funds appropriately, and monitoring conflicts of interest. 

Since late 2023, SDTC has been undergoing significant scrutiny, resulting in the government pausing its funding, conducting audits into their practices, and the replacement of their Board of Directors and executives including former president Leah Lawrence and former board chair Annette Verschuren.

CRTC’s new streaming tax sparks backlash from taxpayers, streaming giants

Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
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CRTC’s new streaming tax sparks backlash from taxpayers, streaming giants

Canada’s broadcasting regulator’s new streaming tax has led to immediate backlash and opposition from streaming giants and a taxpayers’ advocate group.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission mandated on Tuesday that online streaming services like Netflix contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to support the failing legacy media. 

“The CRTC will continue to move quickly, listen carefully, and take action as we implement the new legislation,” said Vicky Eatrides, chairperson and CEO of the CRTC.

Almost immediately after the CRTC’s announcement, various groups expressed opposition.

The leading advocate of the film, television, and streaming industry in the world, the Motion Picture Association, said that it was disappointed with the CRTC’s decision. 

The association said that global studios and streaming services have spent over $6.7 billion annually producing content in Canada made by Canadian production companies, investing more than the CBC, Canada Media Fund, and Telefilm combined.

“Today’s discriminatory decision will make it harder for global streamers to collaborate directly with Canadian creatives and invest in world-class storytelling made in Canada for audiences here and around the world,” said President of the Motion Picture Association, Wendy Noss.

Noss said that the global streaming giant hopes that the next stages of the process from the CRTC consider the benefits that global streaming services bring to Canada.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation also criticized the Liberals almost immediately on Tuesday, warning that taxpayers would feel the pain amid a cost of living crisis.

“The federal government should be doing everything it can to make life more affordable and that means cutting taxes, not imposing new ones,” said federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Franco Terrazzano. “Canadians have every reason to worry this new tax will mean higher prices to stream their favourite music, movies, and TV shows.

The price increase comes at a time when some Canadians can’t afford to deal with any added expense, as indicated by some Canadians who couldn’t afford Sportsnet having to miss out on watching the latest Stanley Cup playoff game because CBC didn’t broadcast it.

The CRTC estimates that the new tax will generate an additional $200 million in revenue.

In 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised that the Liberals would not raise taxes for taxpayers through their digital subscriptions and Internet.

“The NDP is claiming that Netflix and other web giants are the ones who will pay these new taxes. The reality is that taxpayers will be the ones who pay those taxes,” said Trudeau.

The new tax comes as part of the Online Streaming Act, formerly Bill C-11, which received Royal Assent on Apr. 27. 

The Faulkner Show | The environmental case against mass immigration

Harrison Faulkner
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The Faulkner Show | The environmental case against mass immigration

Ontario is losing over 300 acres of farm land a day due reckless mass immigration policies. Canada’s farm land and forest are being bulldozed and paved to make way for Canada’s ever-increasing population. Once you build on farm land, it is gone forever and despite what you may think, Canada is not blessed with as much farm land as you might think.

Harrison Faulkner is joined by the president of Canadians for a Sustainable Society, John Meyer, to discuss the environmental case against mass immigration. Meyer is a economist and commentator as well as a passionate environmentalist who has written extensively about the environmental harms caused by uncontrolled population growth.

Check out Canadians for a Sustainable Society.

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Elected officials “wittingly” assisted foreign state actors, notably China and India: report

Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
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Elected officials “wittingly” assisted foreign state actors, notably China and India: report

A shocking new parliamentary report warned that some elected Canadian officials are knowingly assisting foreign state actors engaging in political interference, most notably working on behalf of China and India.

A report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians was tabled in the House of Commons on Monday. Despite the report being filled with redactions, it revealed that some elected officials are “wittingly” assisting foreign governments with meddling in Canadian politics.

The report said that the integrity of Canada’s parliamentary and democratic process, along with resulting public trust, has been undermined by the federal government.

The report criticized the Liberals for its slow response since 2018, highlighting that previous recommendations from the committee had not been acted upon.

“The slow response to a known threat was a serious failure and one from which Canada may feel the consequences for years to come,” reads the report. “Canada is only now beginning to see the introduction of additional measures to address foreign interference activities.” 

The chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, Liberal MP David McGuinty, mirrored the report’s call for concern in an interview on Monday.

“We found foreign interference at every order of government, in every political party, in the public sector, the media, the NGO sector, the private sector,” said McGuinty. “It’s there, and it’s not stopping.”

While some parliamentarians were unaware that they were the target of foreign interference, according to the report, others participated with open arms.

“Some elected officials began wittingly assisting foreign state actors soon after their election,” reads the report, although specific examples were redacted from the final copy. 

One case involved MPs influencing their colleagues on India’s behalf and providing confidential information to Indian officials. Another instance cited a former MP who maintained a relationship with a foreign intelligence officer, proactively providing the officer with confidential information.

“According to CSIS, the member of Parliament sought to arrange a meeting in a foreign state with a senior intelligence official and also proactively provided the intelligence officer with information provided in confidence,” reads the report.

The report highlighted that these actions were deeply unethical and contrary to the oaths and affirmations parliamentarians take to conduct themselves in the best interest of Canada.

The report also detailed China’s extensive influence operations, suggesting a quid pro quo relationship between some MPs and the Chinese Communist Party. In exchange for engaging with the party, these MPs receive support from Beijing’s networks in ridings with many Chinese voters.

While the MPs’ names were redacted, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was asked whether these MPs would be removed from the caucus if confirmed to be Liberals.

Freeland did not answer the question directly but emphasized that tougher measures to fight foreign interference exist under the current federal government than in the previous Conservative government. 

The report makes six recommendations to the federal government, including updating the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, developing consistent definitions and thresholds for action on foreign interference, and reporting annually on briefings for parliamentarians.

The recommendations also suggest reviewing party nomination processes and leadership conventions to include them within the framework of the Canada Elections Act and addressing vulnerabilities in political party administration to reduce opportunities for foreign interference.

The report comes just days after Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Review Agency concluded that the country’s intelligence response was deeply flawed, particularly in handling foreign interference during the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Critical mineral reserves present Canada with a half-a-trillion-dollar opportunity

Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
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Critical mineral reserves present Canada with a half-a-trillion-dollar opportunity

Economists predict Canada could boost its GDP by over $500 billion if it digs into its critical mineral reserves. 

In a new report, TD analysts say the country is on the brink of an economic windfall, poised to harness an abundant critical mineral wealth throughout Canada. 

Critical minerals are essential for developing clean technologies, which are pivotal in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. With rich reserves of these minerals, Canada could see at least $300 billion from just six cobalt, lithium, copper, graphite, nickel, and rare earths. 

The report does not consider other sought-after critical minerals like silicon, platinum, aluminum and others, meaning the likely valuation of Canada’s supply is much larger than reported. 

According to TD Canada economists Francis Fong, Likeleli Seitlheko, and Mekdes Gebreselassie, developing these resources can contribute over $500 billion to the nation’s GDP over the mines’ lifespan.

“Canada has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to play a key role in supplying the global economy given significant reserves of almost all minerals that are identified as critical to the clean energy transition and economic security in provincial, territorial and federal Critical Minerals Strategy documents,” wrote the report’s authors. 

The proposed projects for the six minerals alone could lead to up to $80 billion in capital expenditures and boost GDP by $63 billion once construction begins, followed by $460 billion over the mines’ production lifespans.

This development phase could create approximately 95,000 full-time jobs and contribute $12 billion in tax revenue.

Analysts wrote that realizing this economic potential hinges on establishing partnerships and collaboration with Indigenous communities, on whose lands many of these mineral deposits are located.

Emerging models of partnership, which include equity stakes for Indigenous communities could lead to successful mineral development projects. 

The expanding use of renewable energy sources and electric cars is boosting the need for minerals like copper, cobalt, lithium, and nickel.

Since green technologies require more minerals than fossil fuels, this demand is likely to persist. For example, electric vehicles need six times the minerals per unit compared to conventional vehicles, while solar and wind power require much more minerals when compared to natural gas power.

If the Paris Agreement targets are met, global demand could grow fivefold by 2050. Even with a more gradual transition, industry growth could explode by double in the middle of the century.

Recent policy shifts by the US and Chinese governments have also created further opportunities for Canada to exploit its favourable position in the emerging market. 

Last month, US President Joe Biden introduced a 25% tariff on natural graphite beginning in 2026 and a 27% tariff on synthetic graphite beginning this month. The moves are expected to shift US purchases towards Canadian producers and away from Chinese critical mineral providers, who have long dominated the market.

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