Canada’s 20-year mine timeline hits multibillion-dollar wall: report

Canada’s lengthy mine development process is putting billions of dollars in potential critical minerals investment at risk as competing jurisdictions move projects into production years faster, a new study suggests.

Canada takes about 20 years to permit and build a mine compared with 14 years in Australia, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data cited in PwC Canada’s Mine 2026 report. 

Geology alone is no longer enough to secure investment, with policy, permitting, capital and processing capacity increasingly determining which countries capture the most value from the global critical minerals supply chain, the study argues.

“Canada has world-class geology, but projects still have to move through a complex system of federal and provincial assessments and permitting requirements, as well as navigating infrastructure constraints and community engagement processes,” Monica Banting, PwC Canada’s national mining leader, told MINING.COM. “That complexity creates uncertainty around timelines and costs, which makes it harder for investors to commit capital.”

Projects also face financing challenges because of Canada’s relatively high-cost operating environment and the time required to secure social licence, which Banting described as essential to project success alongside regulatory approvals.

Countries with abundant mineral resources can still leave value on the table if projects fail to secure timely permits, adequate financing and access to processing infrastructure, PwC says. 

Next phase

The report argues the next phase of the critical minerals race will be decided not only by geology, but by governments’ ability to move projects efficiently from discovery to production while attracting private capital.

It points to Canada’s efforts to strengthen its position through its Critical Minerals Strategy, investment funds, infrastructure spending and international partnerships. Five mining projects have been designated nationally significant through the Major Projects Office, representing more than $11.6 billion in estimated capital investment. 

Between 2022 and 2024, domestic production of nine critical minerals increased 10%, according to the federal government.

Canada should focus on making project approvals more predictable without weakening environmental or social standards, Banting said.

“The most impactful reforms would improve predictability while maintaining confidence that Canada’s high standards are not being weakened,” she said. “That means better federal-provincial coordination, reducing duplication between review processes, setting clear and time-bound decision deadlines, and giving proponents a single point of contact through a concierge-style model.”

Digital permitting tools could improve transparency and automate routine compliance, Banting also said. Indigenous communities should be engaged as long-term economic partners through clearer consultation, benefit agreements, procurement opportunities, revenue sharing and equity participation where appropriate, she added.

Geology still matters

Although permitting has become a major competitive factor, countries still need both resource endowment and effective policy to succeed, Banting said.

“Geology still matters. You cannot become a trusted supplier of critical minerals without the resources in the ground,” she said. “Geology and well-functioning regulatory and permitting systems are each necessary, but not sufficient conditions for developing a successful mining sector.”

Investors increasingly favour jurisdictions that combine high-quality deposits with a clear development pathway, supportive public policy and coordinated infrastructure planning, Banting said. Countries that also control mineral processing capture a greater share of the value chain from mine to market.

The stakes extend well beyond the mining sector, according to PwC. Governments around the world are racing to secure supplies of critical minerals needed for electric vehicles, renewable energy, defence technologies and advanced manufacturing, making permitting speed and investment certainty strategic advantages rather than administrative issues.

Canada has only a limited window to strengthen its position, Banting warned.

“Critical minerals are an important strength as Canada faces a changing world order and the impacts of geopolitical fragmentation,” she said. “If we cannot move from mining ambition to action, fewer Canadian projects will reach commercial production, resulting in fewer jobs created, less regional infrastructure development and less opportunity to capture value beyond extraction, including processing and value-added supply chain activity.”