Government of Yukon participates in national discussion on responsible mineral development

On Tuesday, Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking met with federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for mines at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Conference in Toronto. Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring Canada's mineral resources are developed in a manner that delivers lasting economic, social and strategic benefits for Canadians.

Ministers underscored their governments are working collaboratively to welcome investment, support responsible mineral development and ensure that economic opportunities generated from mineral resources contribute to long-term prosperity for communities and regions, while reinforcing economic resilience, safeguarding national security considerations and maintaining confidence in Canada's overall investment environment.

Minister Laking spoke about the Government of Yukon's efforts to improve permitting timelines and other initiatives to enhance the territory's competitiveness as a mining jurisdiction. These include restructuring the Mineral Resources Branch, establishing a deputy minister's oversight committee on major mines and critical minerals and collaborating with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to push for stronger federal support for critical minerals infrastructure and improved tax incentives for mineral exploration and development.

Ministers also spoke about the importance of improving electrical connectivity between Canadian jurisdictions. The Government of Yukon continues to explore a proposed 800 kilometre transmission line connecting the Yukon and BC electrical grids. This transmission line could create a clean electricity corridor in Canada's Northwest, powering tens of thousands of Canadian jobs, reducing diesel reliance and strengthening the Yukon's energy infrastructure.