The Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) program aims to increase the economic participation of Indigenous communities and organizations in the development of natural resource projects that will increasingly be needed in the clean economy.
INRP has $80 million in contributions funding for projects that:
- increase the capacity of Indigenous communities to engage in, benefit from, actively participate in and/or capitalize on economic development opportunities in the natural resource sectors; and
- increase the investment and/or collaboration between Indigenous Peoples and other natural resource development stakeholders, including governments, industry and non-governmental organizations.
Giyak Mishkawzid Shkagmikwe Inc (GMS)
Natural Resources Canada will provide $2.7 million to Giyak Mishkawzid Shkagmikwe Inc. (GMS) to help purchase two production mining drills. GMS will lease these drills to Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin Limited Partnership (ADLP), a joint venture among Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and Technica Mining to extract nickel and copper at the Vale Mine in Sudbury.
The investment of $2.7 million through INRP will allow GMS and its joint venture partners to purchase two production mining drills, enabling them to secure a three-year drilling contract at Vale's Stobie Open Pit Project. The project will be a significant revenue-generating opportunity for both Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation.
In July 2024, Vale signed an agreement for Stobie Open Pit Mining Project with mining services company Theiss, United Steelworkers and two Indigenous businesses: Z'Gamok Construction LP (ZCLP), owned by Sagamok First Nation, and Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin Limited Partnership (ADLP), operated in partnership with Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and Technica Mining.
The $205-million Stobie Open-Pit Mining Project is a short-term extension of the historic Stobie Pit, which ceased operations in 2017 after over 100 years of operations. The Stobie project is the first phase of Vale's C$945 million plans to revitalize the copper complex in Sudbury. The project will produce nickel and copper, with an initial production target of 300,000 tonnes of nickel and copper ramping up to 1.5 million tonnes annually by 2025 and continuing until 2027 or 2028. Pre-feasibility studies are currently being conducted for the project, which if advanced is expected to begin operating in 2025.
Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund
The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) is Natural Resources Canada's flagship program under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy - to support enabling clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects necessary to increase Canada's supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals, and the development of domestic and global value chains for the green and digital economy.
With the launch of the Strategy in December 2022, the Government of Canada signalled the need for strategic investments in clean energy and transportation infrastructure to realize Canada's critical mineral potential. To contribute to the implementation of the Strategy, Budget 2022 proposed up to $1.5 billion, until 2030, for infrastructure investments to support expanded sustainable critical mineral production and unlock critical mineral rich regions.
Canada Nickel Company Ltd. and Transmission Infrastructure Partnerships 1 Limited are planning two pre-development projects related to the Crawford Nickel project in Timmins, Ontario:
Canada Nickel Company Ltd.
- Canada Nickel Company Ltd. is planning to conduct studies to inform the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project's electrification plan and related grid connection infrastructure. Pending final due diligence, Natural Resources Canada has conditionally approved an investment of up to $4.4 million under the CMIF for this project.
Magna Mining Inc. is planning three pre-development projects related to the Shakespeare and Crean Hill mine projects near Sudbury, Ontario:
- to complete pre-construction milestones to advance a six-kilometre transmission line to connect its Shakespeare mine to the Ontario grid. This work will include identifying the most suitable option for a Hydro One grid power connection to support the proposed nickel-copper mine.
- to complete pre-construction milestones to advance the upgrade of an existing 30-kilometre forest access road for its Shakespeare mine.
- to conduct a pre-feasibility study and engagement activities and to acquire permits and regulatory approvals for a connection to the Ontario power grid for its Crean Hill project. The Crean Hill project is restarting an existing mine to help meet demand for copper and nickel as demand for use in clean technologies increases.
- Pending final due diligence, Natural Resources Canada has conditionally approved these investments to Magna Mining Inc. for a total of up to $1.6 million under the CMIF.
