Keep your hands to yourself.
That’s the message from Ottawa to US president Donald Trump and his quest to swallow up Canada’s critical minerals supply chain after Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson poured more than $500 million into critical infrastructure programs designed to maintain Canada’s lead in what is shaping up to be a critical geopolitical sector.
Now Ottawa is announcing a slew of new initiatives, including a two-year extension of the 15% Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC), a $500 million cash dump in energy and transportation infrastructure and a $50 million injection into Indigenous partnerships and data collection.
Wilkinson made the announcements in conjunction with the Department of Finance at the Prospectors and Developers Association conference in Toronto on Monday.
“These investments will create jobs, strengthen our economy, and ensure Canada remains a reliable supplier of critical minerals,” Wilkinson said. “We’re not just protecting our mineral wealth, we’re growing it.”
With demand for critical minerals expected to double by 2040, Canada has positioned itself as a key player in supplying the world’s growing need for resources like nickel, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements essential for semiconductors, defense systems, electric vehicle batteries and clean energy technologies.
To accelerate growth, the Canadian government has pledged more than $700 million over the past two years, funding new mines, processing facilities, and transportation infrastructure to bolster domestic and international supply chains.
But while Canada is investing in its mineral independence, Washington appears to have other plans.
Over the past month, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada’s mineral wealth should be integrated into the US supply chain — by any means necessary. Trump, who previously attempted to buy Greenland in 2019, has now turned his attention north, touting annexation as a way to ensure a “China-free” critical minerals supply.
“We need to secure our own minerals,” Trump told a rally in Ohio last week. “China controls way too much. And you know who has what we need? Canada. Canada is a great country. A lot of people say it should be part of America. I say, let’s look at it.”
The comments have sparked alarm in Ottawa, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responding forcefully.
“I think it’s clear that the Trump administration knows exactly how rich Canada is in critical minerals, and frankly, that’s probably why they keep floating this idea of making us the 51st state,” Trudeau said during a meeting with Canadian business leaders. “Let me be very clear: Canada is not for sale.”
Trump’s push for control over critical minerals has extended beyond Canada. In addition to acquiring Greenland, Trump has also taken a keen interest in Panama’s vast copper reserves.
The push to control mineral-rich territories is also playing out in Ukraine, which has proposed a deal that would exchange access to Ukrainian mineral resources for continued US military aid. However, experts have pointed out that Ukraine has no commercial rare-earth deposits and lacks the infrastructure to develop them anytime soon.
Despite the US rhetoric, Canada remains committed to securing its mineral future on its own terms. With more than 60 minerals and metals produced from over 200 mines, the country is already a leading supplier of key resources — much to Trump’s chagrin.
“Our mining industry is world-class, and we’re going to keep it that way,” Trudeau said. “We welcome trade and partnerships but Canada’s resources belong to Canada.”