Media Contacts

Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals

Media Relations
250-514-0510

Backgrounders

What people are saying about the addition of the three projects

Sam Lee, president and CEO, Northisle Copper and Gold –

“We welcome inclusion in the Critical Minerals Office and recognize this as an important catalyst for accelerating our North Island Project. Co-ordination with this office further supports our approach to building consensus through meaningful and efficient First Nations and stakeholder engagement. Through government support and improved co-ordination, we can unlock access to national and global partnerships, including funding tools that support Indigenous partnerships, local employment and enabling infrastructure.”

Mark Tory, CEO, Defense Metals Corp. –

“Selection for early co-ordination support through the Critical Minerals Office is a significant milestone that recognizes Wicheeda’s role as a cornerstone of British Columbia’s critical-minerals future. We are grateful for the Province’s partnership as we move beyond the preliminary stage and intensify our feasibility-level engineering and environmental workstreams. By working in collaboration with First Nations rights holders and the Critical Minerals Office, we are ensuring that Wicheeda advances as a world-class project that delivers long-term sustainable value for the entire region.”

Leif Nilsson, CEO, Surge Copper Corp. –

“We are grateful for the Province’s support through the Critical Minerals Office. Inclusion in this program reflects the significance of the Berg Project as one of British Columbia's largest undeveloped copper-molybdenum-silver deposits and underscores its alignment with the Province's critical-minerals strategy. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Critical Minerals Office, First Nations partners and provincial regulators, as we advance Berg in a responsible and transparent manner.”

Martin Turenne, president and CEO, FPX Nickel Corp. –

“The Critical Minerals Office has been instrumental in helping us advance the Baptiste Nickel Project. At a tactical level, it has broken down silos between ministries and provided FPX Nickel with a single point of contact for the provincial government. The creation of this office has signalled to investors that B.C. is committed to the industry and remains one of the most competitive jurisdictions for mine-project development globally.”

Pat Corbett-Labatt, mayor of Port Hardy –

“On behalf of the District of Port Hardy, a resource-dependent community, we welcome the support of the Critical Minerals Office in helping ensure Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. can move forward with early co-ordination as the project advances toward environmental assessment and timely permitting. Northisle’s decision to engage early with the Quatsino First Nation and the District of Port Hardy demonstrates a strong commitment to respectful partnership and meaningful community consultation. We appreciate this proactive approach and look forward to continued collaboration as the project progresses.”

Chief James Nelson, Quatsino First Nation –

“We appreciate the Province taking these projects seriously and ensuring there is a clear and fulsome process in place. Having a dedicated point of contact to support ongoing dialogue is important for our community as the North Island Project advances. We believe it is essential to balance responsible economic development with protection of the local environment, and we look forward to continued engagement and discussions and welcome continued improvements in the administrative processes.”