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By Chris Brown

'untapped geological potential'

Alberta creates panel for mineral resource production

Sep 23, 2020 | 10:47 AM

Alberta wants to become a world leader in mineral resource production.

The province has struck a five-member Mineral Advisory Council it says will “help government unlock Alberta’s vast, untapped geological potential for various minerals that are in increasing global demand.”

Minerals the province is eyeing include lithium, vanadium, uranium, rare earth elements, diamonds and potash. Many of the minerals are used to make batteries, cellphones, energy storage cells and more.

“A successful post-pandemic recovery requires a strong and diversified economy,” says Energy Minister Sonya Savage in a release on Wednesday. “Guided by the experience of our advisory council, we are designing a new mineral strategy that will place Alberta at the cutting edge of critical mineral exploration and development. Doing so will encourage investment and create jobs for Albertans, supporting our long-term economic recovery.”

Members of the Mineral Advisory Council

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• Stephanie Autut – Currently the executive director of the Nunavut Water Board, Autut has more than 23 years of experience in environmental and land use planning and sustainable resource development legislation and regulation. She spent 11 years as executive director of the Nunavut Impact Review Board, and was an active participant in the legislative working group that developed the unique legislative framework that governs responsible resource development, environmental impact assessment and land use planning in Nunavut.
• Bob McLeod – McLeod served two terms as premier of the Northwest Territories, retiring in 2019. His 12-year political career followed 30 years in the public service focusing on intergovernmental and Indigenous affairs, resource development, mining, and regulatory reform. A graduate of NAIT and the University of Alberta, McLeod wrote his thesis on Aboriginal self-government. With his strong background in mineral development, economic diversification and regulatory affairs, he brings a legislative and policy lens to the panel.
• Allison Rippin Armstrong – With more than 25 years’ experience in regulatory processes and environmental compliance, Rippin Armstrong has worked with government, Indigenous organizations, regulatory agencies and resource companies through her work with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Chambers of Mines, and the Yukon Women in Mining board.
• Gordon Stothart – The president and CEO of IAMGOLD, and current chairman of the Mining Association of Canada, Stothart has more than 30 years’ experience in the international mining industry in operational, project and business development management roles. He brings an industry perspective to the panel with his extensive knowledge of effective mineral policy frameworks across the world.
• Eira Thomas – The president, CEO, and co-founder of Lucara Diamond Corporation, and a current director of Suncor Energy, Thomas is a Canadian geologist with more than 25 years of experience in the Canadian mining industry. She has worked and invested millions of dollars in mineral projects across Canada and the globe and brings the perspective of both the entrepreneur and the geologist to the panel.

In addition to the council’s work, the Alberta government will also “engage key stakeholders to gather input on the elements of a successful mineral strategy.” The release mentions better public access to data about minerals, a streamlined regulatory process and enhanced opportunities for Indigenous people.

On Tuesday, the government announced it will invest up to $750 million from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction fund and other public funding. This investment will be more than doubled by additional dollars from industry and other sectors, leading to more than $1.9 billion in total funding.