The M&E Dispatch // 062

Hello Everyone,

This week, China halted deliveries of Boeing jets. Not because of a manufacturing issue - but because of trade politics. It’s the latest shot in the U.S.–China standoff, and another clear message: when push comes to shove, resource control is leverage. And right now, China is showing it knows exactly where its leverage lies.

Canada is currently watching from the bench, rich in critical minerals, but still acting like we don’t know where half of them are buried. Cause we don’t.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: we’ve got a plethora of mineral wealth - cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earths, uranium, you name it - but aside from a general shrug in the direction of Northern Ontario and “somewhere near Smithers”, we haven’t exactly mapped out the goods. Not in a real, drill-tested, quantified way.

And that’s a problem. Because when the world needs supply - fast - and you can’t confidently say where your stuff is or how to get it, you’re not a supplier, you’re a brochure.

So maybe it’s time we let Junior Mining Companies (JMCs) do what they do best. Drill holes. Take risks. Spend their own money. Let them drill where the rocks look interesting and chase it down 500 metres if they want to, at their own risk and their own expense. Put a plug in the hole after they’re done so no one drops their keys down it. Simple.

If they’re willing to invest in mapping Canada’s mineral future — should we really be slowing them down?

Heck, we should probably be doing the opposite.
If we can throw R&D credits at tech companies to build crypto casinos and dating apps for dogs, surely we can offer some kind of SRED-style incentive to explorers poking holes in the Earth to figure out where our next strategic reserves are.

Because this isn’t a “nice to have” anymore. It’s national security with a drill rig.

We’re not saying throw out oversight. But let’s be honest: our permitting process is currently better designed for polite denial than for global competition. And in the middle of a global trade reshuffle where China is flexing its rare earth dominance and the U.S. is scrambling to replace it, Canada should be sprinting, not speed-walking.

The government’s $4B critical minerals strategy is a good start - but if the only people drilling are crown-backed majors and policy roundtables, we’re missing the point. Let the juniors get in there. Because discovery comes from movement, not models.

If we want to keep pace on the world stage - if we want to actually be the dependable supplier we keep telling the world we are - we need to stop talking about what we could have and start finding what we do have.

Let them drill. Let them explore. Let them unlock the next chapter of Canada’s economic independence.

Or we can keep watching China reroute global supply chains while we debate whether we’ve held enough consultations about that one hill north of the one lake you need a floatplane to find.

The choice is ours.
And it starts with a shovel and a willingness to risk it all.

// The Dirt

Osisko Metals Intersects 300 Metres Averaging 0.39% Copper at Gaspé Copper Project
Initial 2025 drill results extend the deposit to the south and at depth, marking a strong kickoff to their Quebec campaign.
Read more →

Commerce Resources and Mont Royal Resources Enter Into Arrangement Agreement
A merger of two critical minerals players aims to create a Canadian-focused development powerhouse.
Read more →

Goldshore Discovers Additional Mineralization Between Southwest and Main Zones
New assays confirm a growing corridor of gold mineralization at the Moss Gold Project in Ontario.
Read more →

Graphano Receives Exploration Work Authorisations for All Quebec Properties
With full provincial approval in hand, Graphano is ready to advance its graphite targets.
Read more →

Freeman Gold Commences Phase Four Metallurgical Test Work at Lemhi Project
The company advances feasibility study work with a new contract awarded to Base Met Labs in Kamloops.
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Spearmint Significantly Increases Acreage on Sisson North Tungsten Project
The company expands its New Brunswick landholding adjacent to a large-scale tungsten-moly project.
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Klondike Gold Closes $1.5M Private Placement
The Yukon-focused explorer raises over $1.5M, including a portion of flow-through funds.
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Helius Minerals Closes Non-Brokered Private Placement
A total of 4.3M shares are issued in the latest funding round for the TSXV-listed explorer.
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Bold Ventures Announces Private Placement and First Tranche Closing
Toronto-based explorer raises capital for working capital and flow-through exploration with a two-stream raise.
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Graphano Announces Second Extension of Warrant Expiry Date
The company extends 12.6 million warrants to 2026, reaching the TSXV’s five-year term limit.
Read more →

Spent the weekend in Calgary for (you guessed it) more hockey. No surprise there. But I did sneak in a quick walk through CrossIron Mills — and I’ve gotta say, it was eye-opening. Lots of prime retail space sitting empty, and not a whole lot of foot traffic for a Saturday.

Sign of the times? Maybe.

That said, I’ll still be indulging in some good old-fashioned retail therapy this weekend. Easter’s coming up — and I’ve already got my eye on next week’s real holiday: Half-Price Chocolate Monday.

Have a great week, everyone.

- Lee