What minerals does the U.S. get from OntarioWhat minerals does the U.S. get from Ontario and how can Canada fight back against Trump's tariff threats?
Ontario plans to start a new Am-Can critical mineral security alliance, to invest and then build out American and Canadian critical mineral supply chains, in response to tariff threats by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
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The United States should look to Ontario and Canada for critical minerals like nickel, copper and platinum rather than China, says Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Ford made the statement as part of Jan. 13 news conference during which he expanded upon plans for a North American economic alliance he calls "Fortress Am-Can."
Ford said he is proposing “bold new measures” to help extract, process and deliver the critical minerals North American supply chains need.
The move comes exactly one week before the inauguration of U.S. president Donald Trump, who has proposed crippling 25 per cent tariffs against Canadian exports.
What Fortress Am-Can means for mining
Building upon his “Fortress Am-Can” energy alliance with the U.S. announced last week, Ford pledged to speed up regulatory approval timelines for current and planned critical mineral projects, with priority given to projects that displace and replace Chinese supply.
The plan includes fast-tracking resource extraction in Ontario’s Ring of Fire region.
“Ontario plans to start a new Am-Can critical mineral security alliance, to invest and then build out American and Canadian critical mineral supply chains, including by significantly expanding Am-Can processing capacity,” said Ford.
“Forty-six per cent of the nickel the U.S. uses comes from Ontario,” said Ford.
Ford said Canada should work with the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize shared Am-Can national security objectives for Canadian government investments in critical mineral supply chains, including strategic investments in mining and processing projects.
Ontario has also proposed a cross-border working group on mineral price stability to identify Am-Can policy solutions that promote the long-term sustainability of critical mineral development projects.
Ford said the province also intends to enshrine a one project-one process permitting approach to all resource development in Canada with service standards and timeline guarantees for regulatory approvals, while promoting First Nation equity and economic participation and respecting and meeting duty to consult obligations.
Importance of Ontario minerals
George Pirie, Ontario minister of mines, said Ontario is a producer of more than 77 per cent of the platinum group elements in Canada, almost half of the country’s nickel and one-third of its copper.
Pirie added Ontario nickel is critical to the American aerospace and defence industries.
Could Ontario block electricity and mineral exports?
Ford, who said he hasn’t met face-to-face with the president-elect, said Ontario could be the hardest hit province if Trump’s tariff threats are enacted. He refused to rule out cutting off electricity exports to the U.S. states of Minnesota, New York and Michigan if the tariffs are imposed.
“They’re targeting Ontario. They’re targeting good paying jobs in Ontario and I’m going to fight with every tool I have in our tool box to protect Ontario jobs,” said Ford.
When asked whether Ontario might withhold exports of critical minerals to the United States, Ford said: “Let’s see what they’re going to do on Jan. 20 and then we’ll retaliate."
"Let’s try not to go down that road. It’s just going to delay and hurt both economies."