PDAC response to A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy

In May 2026, the Government of Canada released a discussion paper titled ‘Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy’. This discussion paper outlines Canada’s approach to expanding and modernizing electricity infrastructure, with the goal of doubling Canada’s electricity supply by 2050. This is particularly important for the mineral sector, where the cost of exploring and developing mines in northern and remote Canada can be up to 10 times higher than in southern jurisdictions, with infrastructure accounting for much of that difference. At the same time, Canadian mines are increasingly electrifying to reduce emissions and improve health, safety and operating efficiency, increasing the importance of reliable and affordable electricity infrastructure.

PDAC's response emphasizes the need for electricity investments to facilitate multi-use infrastructure in underserved regions that can also support mineral exploration and development. PDAC recommends that the federal government recapitalize the First and Last Mile Fund, look for further opportunities to streamline regulatory processes, make mineral exploration projects eligible under the Canada Strong Fund, prioritize northern and remote infrastructure investment, and identify priority regions for small modular reactor (SMR) adoption.