(Manitoba) Mineral Strategy

Manitoba's commitment to sustainable development in the minerals sector is incorporated in The Mines and Minerals Act. As part of this vision, the  Department of Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines has drafted a set of provincial mineral policies from public and government input. The objectives of the strategy are:

• to ensure the minerals industry conducts its activities in an environmentally sound manner;
• to ensure environmental management and protection measures consider economic impacts;
• to ensure human health and safety are protected throughout the activities of the mineral industry;
• to ensure access to and wise use of mineral resources in a manner which optimizes the long-term social, environmental and economic benefits and opportunities for Manitobans; and
• to improve understanding of inter-relationships among geology, mineral resources, the industry, the environment, human health and the economy.

The Department has also implemented a land use program in order to meet the goals of the strategic plan. This program aims:

• to provide fair and equitable access to land with mineral potential;
• to provide legal protection for mineral dispositions, mining rights and lands with high mineral potential;
• to minimise conflicts by avoiding incompatible land use allocations;
• to improve security of tenure for the mining industry; and
• to provide increased certainty in the permitting process.

Updated in November 2024, Manitoba's strategy is an active document with policies and programs that will set in motion the next phase of economic development. The province committed to:

• Building secure, transparent supply chains for the future.
• Fostering responsible mining activity that respects the environment.
• Engaging in Indigenous partnerships and economic reconciliation for long-term prosperity.
• Creating more family-supporting jobs close to home.

Key actions in the update include:

• Speeding up project timelines and access to strategic investments and permitting with a new single-desk Critical Minerals Office.
• Enhancing the regulatory framework and ensuring efficient and transparent permitting processes.
• Supporting Indigenous participation, ownership, and capacity building through Indigenous procurement, revenue sharing, and equity partnerships.
• Growing a highly skilled workforce and expanding local employment opportunities.
• Strengthening environmental protection, management, and responsible development that benefits future generations.

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