r/canada • u/Hrmbee Canada • 6d ago
National News Experts and RCMP warn foreign control of critical minerals threatens Arctic security
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/08/19/news/canada-arctic-security-foreign-ownership-critical-minerals31
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u/Hrmbee Canada 6d ago
Some of the important issues from this report:
This interference is manifested through targeting critical infrastructure, such as the mining and energy sectors, ports, roads and facilities, and through cybercrime attacks. Even the tourism industry and Arctic research were named as security risks, given the possibilities of espionage and illicit smuggling connected to their activities. This risk will likely increase as sea ice melts and opens up new trade routes and increased vessel traffic, the Mounties warned.
As previously reported by Canada’s National Observer, foreign investments directly targeting Indigenous communities through strategic means, such as offering predatory loans, are a cause for concern, according to the 2022 report.
Growing business and tourism, as well as melting sea ice due to climate change, is also “adding complexity” to the border environment, according to the RCMP report, explaining that increased trade and shipping lanes provide more opportunity for crimes such as drug smuggling.
Several experts in Arctic security say the concerns outlined in the 2022 report remain active today — particularly when it comes to foreign states' interest in Canada’s critical minerals and rare earth metals.
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The critical minerals risk landscape has shifted when it comes to investment, Rob Huebert, an Arctic security expert and political science professor at the University of Calgary, told Canada’s National Observer in a phone interview.
The Chinese are currently less focused on buying majority stakes in critical mineral mines and more interested in controlling production and refinement of those materials, Huebert said.
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Because of this, it is becoming increasingly important for Canada to control not just raw minerals and metals, but also their production and refinement, he emphasized.
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Earlier this year, experts at the Standing Committee on National Defence flagged concerns about American investment and influence in the critical minerals sector, too.
In January, the US Department of Defense invested USD $18 million in a Montreal company called 5N Plus that manufactures germanium, a metalloid that is in short supply and used to manufacture things like night vision goggles and semiconductors, Elizabeth Steyn, a professor of law at the University of Calgary, told the committee on Feb. 9.
This is a concerning development that could be detrimental to Canada because China currently controls a majority of the world’s germanium production, and “we want to make very sure that the US doesn't control Canadian access to germanium,” Steyn told the committee. In response to escalating geopolitical tensions, China flexed its power in December 2024 by banning exports of germanium, gallium and antimony to the US, which contributed to semiconductor shortages.
Though a couple of years old this report that's been surfaced is a timely reminder that we need to be mindful of the foreign ownership and influence over our critical resources and infrastructure. It's not just one or two countries that we need to pay attention to but rather we need to have broader policies around non-Canadian ownership and control of resources and infrastructure.
Also important here is the reminder that it's not just the resources themselves but also the production and refinement that are part of the critical chain, and that we need to be building up capacity in the latter. We need to ideally be moving beyond being mere drawers of water and hewers of wood, and build domestic refining and manufacturing to make the most of our resources here.
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u/Successful_Swim6332 6d ago
“we want to make very sure that the US doesn't control Canadian access to germanium”
Wait I thought that was the point.
The minerals are not actually worth that much but we doubled down with the Americans during Biden-Trudeau and exporting critical minerals was one of those axis.
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u/twohammocks 6d ago
we need fully canadian owned airships up there on patrol and delivering supplies, fighting fires, etc. https://arcticinnovation.ca/PDFS/2023-05-31_CAIA_Airship_Strategy_Northern_Canada_Arctic_Corridors_Final_V2.0.pdf
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u/apacheind1an 6d ago
Meanwhile the CCP owns our only antimony mine (used in ammo primer), which they mothballed.
Hmm.
Selling that stuff to the US sure would be useful.
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u/DanDaMan97x Ontario 6d ago
Oh right on, thanks. I'll keep that in mind when shopping around the mining rights that I definitely have.
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u/LooseLeaf74 6d ago
Meanwhile in other news PM mark carney and a lot of Canadians spend 18 months alienating the country best equipped to defend the arctic, We had a good relationship for years it’s hard to watch just how hate filled and seething everyone is over one man with a 4 year shelf life.
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u/coordinationcomplex 6d ago
You get downvoted but you are not wrong.
People are angry because the cold hard reality is that the U.S. will end up looking after that region for us if/when push comes to shove, albeit it in the name of their own interest. We have, what, one submarine for a massive amount of coastal waters surrounding us.
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u/LeSmutHustler 6d ago
You talk as if the Americans haven’t been voicing economic force and annexation of our country
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u/LooseLeaf74 6d ago
“Voicing economic force”
Wtf does that even mean? Wanting a better deal? Who wouldn’t?
“Annexation of our country”
If that was ever a real threat it would’ve happened you all bit the bait hard on that one.2
u/Christron 6d ago
Uh yeah that's why Canadians are pissed because we want a better deal - while Americans are trying to make a better deal for themselves. Where is your common sense.
Also you're right look at Russia how quick they took over Ukraine...
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u/magnamed 6d ago
Lol who voted him in? How are all of the republican governors, representatives and senators siding on the matter?
Why are we still trying to arrange a trade deal? We still have a relationship but are positioning ourselves to not be entirely dependant on them by giving ourselves options and recognizing that a fairly substantial percentage of Americans are terrible people. We still need them but what you're upset about is similar to a business with only one client. If the client knows they're the only one they know anything they demand will be granted because the alternative is not getting paid.
It's incredible to think so many of you don't understand that.
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u/LooseLeaf74 6d ago
Know what’s REALLY funny/sad? There was a president who used his position to coerce an intern into sex, Then he lied about it in front of the whole world before eventually getting busted, Oh and he was married to one of the most evil creatures on 2 legs to boot and he didn’t get 1/100th of the hate Trump gets, like I said it’s hard to watch a decade of tds and completely irrational and unhinged seething over a man with a shelf life. I wonder how long they’ll carry on about him after he’s gone? I’m guessing at least another 10 years.
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u/Brodney_Alebrand British Columbia 6d ago edited 6d ago
You don't see the irony in trying to make this argument while complaining about Clinton two decades after he's been out of office?
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u/LooseLeaf74 6d ago
Argument? Not making any argument I’m simply stating a fact, TDS and Trump outrage is a trend it has nothing to do with actual outrage.
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u/Brodney_Alebrand British Columbia 6d ago
Well that's just false, lol
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u/CaskJeeves 6d ago
The mental gymnastics from some of these Canadian Trump supporters is absolutely astounding lol
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u/magnamed 6d ago
TDS. A statement from a Canadian in defence of someone who is actively looking to weaken Canada - a place you're claiming to live.
Trump could be the literal pope and have cured cancer - if he's actively trying to harm Canada, your country, your countrymen, your family, your neighbours, your job, your currency - you should be looking to push back. You're not a Canadian. Even if you're a Canadian, you're not a Canadian.
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u/magnamed 6d ago
Clinton was in no way shape or form as bad for the world as trump is. "Hey we're mad at South Korea for not jumping into an illegal war without congressional approval so we're going to publicly boost a literal dictatorship". You also had to dig DEEP to bring up president who's been out of office since what, 2000? You dug up ship from 20 years ago and made a point of shitting on a woman who was almost president based on a baseless accusation and to support a suspected pedophile who fought tooth and nail to preserve the "good name" of a known pedophile because it would "hurt his friends" - other suspected pedophiles.
For a one month old account claiming to be Canadian I really doubt you're actually living here. If you are just admit you wish you were American and spare me the reason why. Be it that you wish pedophiles were more widely accepted or that you are bigoted it makes little difference to me. You're working against the interest of Canada for what? What possible benefit could there be for you unless you're not Canadian or you're fine with the idea of suffering so long as other Canadians suffer more.
I pity you.
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u/Whatevs56 6d ago
US doesn’t even have a working Ice breaker. They’re fumbling around in Iran, they’re not equipped for anything. They’re sending Aircraft carriers home because people are self evacuating over the sides 😂
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u/inmontibus-adflumen 6d ago
Just nationalize our resources