The M&E Dispatch // 086

Hello Everyone,

Well, here we go.
We now have a clearer picture of what Prime Minister Mark Carney’s so-called “nation-building” plan might actually involve, and if you squint a little, it starts to look like a federal shortlist of shovel-worthy, shovel-ready, or shovel-someday-maybe projects pulled together under Bill C-5.

I was reading the article in the Financial Post and couldn’t help but start connecting the dots between what’s being floated as nation-building, and the kinds of projects our readers have been working on, pitching, or waiting on for years.

No official project list yet, but a handful of themes have emerged, let’s call them buckets, that the feds say align with provincial priorities. I’ve pulled out the pieces that matter most for M&E readers.

1. Western and Arctic Corridor

This is the big west-to-east-to-north vision: a transportation and energy corridor that connects B.C.’s northwest coast to Hudson Bay, and eventually up to the Arctic port of Grays Bay in Nunavut. Think roads, rail, power lines, pipelines, the whole logistical spine.

What’s drawing attention here is the strong likelihood that a new oil pipeline will be part of the corridor. Carney himself has said it’s “highly, highly likely.” Alberta’s Danielle Smith is already courting investors and eyeing the Port of Prince Rupert as a terminus, possibly bundling crude exports with critical minerals and ammonia.

That’s paired with some very Alberta-friendly language around carbon capture. Expect any oilsands pipeline proposal to include a CCS hook tied to Pathways Alliance. No funding commitments yet, but the feds are open to a private proponent (unlike the TMX-era).

Of course, B.C. Premier David Eby has said he doesn’t support public funding, but hasn’t outright rejected the idea either. So: cautiously optimistic murmurs, not protest signs (yet).

Infrastructure around critical minerals is also a key part of this corridor, including a proposed Yukon-B.C. intertie. It’s clear that mining, not just oil, is being considered core to this route.

2. Critical Minerals Pathways

This bucket’s as wide as it is strategic. The federal government is leaning into critical minerals hard, with Ontario’s Ring of Fire front and centre, but there’s also a real recognition that midstream infrastructure is Canada’s choke point.

Smelting, refining, processing, there’s not enough of it. And without that middle layer, early-stage projects remain high-cost and low-margin. Expect proposals that build out midstream capacity near existing hubs: Sudbury, Rouyn-Noranda, and Trail, B.C. all get a mention.

Killeen from PDAC says it straight: "There hasn’t been a new smelter developed in Canada in decades." That’s likely to change under this framework, especially if the value-added argument gets tied to security of supply and U.S.-aligned trade policy.

3. Next Stage of Nuclear

Ontario is building the first commercial-scale SMR among G7 nations, and provinces like Saskatchewan, Alberta, and New Brunswick want in, with Ontario Power Generation leading tech support.

This initiative blends clean growth with existing strength: uranium from Saskatchewan, CANDU refurbishments, and small modular reactor deployments.

Expect project announcements here to be split between tech development and site upgrades, including reviving aging facilities that were previously considered too costly to rehab.

4. Eastern Energy Partnership

This started as a regional energy security idea, but has grown into something much larger. The Atlantic provinces are pitching this as a way to link up their energy grids, expand offshore and onshore renewables (especially wind), and build the capacity to export clean energy, either through transmission lines to New England or as ammonia-based hydrogen to Europe.

Nova Scotia’s “Wind West” initiative aims to hit 66 gigawatts of offshore wind, 13x more than previous targets. There’s also talk of new pipelines, expanded nuclear, and repurposing hydro from Newfoundland and Labrador.

It’s ambitious and expensive (~$8 billion), but clearly designed to tap into federal interest in EU-friendly exports and Atlantic resiliency.

5. Export Diversification Infrastructure

This category is broad by design, roads, rails, energy corridors, ports, basically anything that helps move Canadian products to new markets.

The key takeaway here is that the feds are framing this as an “infrastructure ecosystem,” not just individual projects. That opens the door to funding clusters of related builds. If your project ties into a logistics hub, corridor, or value chain, this might be the right time to speak up.

What to Watch

• Bill C-5 is now law: It streamlines approvals for projects deemed in the national interest, but requires consultation with Indigenous communities, provinces, and a 30-day notice via the Canada Gazette.

• Private proponents are expected to lead: Ottawa wants to avoid another TMX situation. Private capital is being courted. If you’re sitting on a shovel-ready plan with export potential and low-carbon hooks, get your pitch in order (and make sure to tell me about it so I can get it some press -Lee).

• Critical minerals are the anchor tenant: Projects that feed into full value chains, mining and processing, will likely get priority.

• Pipelines are back on the table: Not with the fanfare of old, but with a new framing: cleaner, cheaper, less politically explosive if industry leads.

I’ll be keenly tracking each of these themes as the shortlist solidifies and real projects get named.

Until then, if your operation touches any part of these corridors, chains, or grid connections, now’s the time to raise your hand.

// The Dirt

Grid Battery Metals Acquires Volt Canyon Lithium Property
The new acquisition in Nevada expands Grid’s lithium exploration footprint in a highly prospective jurisdiction.
Read more → https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/3060-tsx-venture/cell/154404-grid-battery-metals-inc-announces-acquisition-of-the-volt-canyon-lithium-project-in-nevada.html

Canadian North Resources Reports 1.13% Nickel Over 23m
A solid nickel intercept at the Ferguson Lake Project in Nunavut continues to support its scale and development potential.
Read more → https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/2913-tsx-venture/cnri/154399-canadian-north-resources-inc-intersects-1-13-nickel-0-98-copper-over-23-0m-and-1-05-nickel-0-88-copper-over-22-0m-at-its-ferguson-lake-project-in-nunavut.html

Arizona Gold & Silver Intersects 1.5 g/t Gold Over 9.1m
Recent drilling at Philadelphia in Arizona suggests the high-grade vein system remains open to depth and along strike.
Read more → https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/1719-tsx-venture/azs/154406-arizona-gold-silver-intersects-1-5-g-t-au-over-9-15m-including-4-39-g-t-au-over-1-52m-and-3-04-g-t-au-over-1-52m-at-the-philadelphia-gold-silver-property-arizona.html

Mako Mining Drills 34.1 g/t Gold Over 1.1m
Another high-grade hit from Las Conchitas in Nicaragua adds fuel to Mako’s resource growth strategy.
Read more → https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/841-tsx-venture/mko/154414-mako-mining-drills-34-1-g-t-gold-over-1-1m-17-1-g-t-gold-over-1-4m-and-9-3-g-t-gold-over-1-3m-at-las-conchitas-nicaragua.html

Max Resource Identifies 9 New Targets at CESAR Copper-Silver Project
Fieldwork has unveiled significant new targets across the AM District, reinforcing CESAR’s regional scale in Colombia.
Read more → https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/1824-tsx-venture/max/154415-max-resource-identifies-9-new-targets-at-cesar-copper-silver-project.html

Commerce Resources Ships More REE Sample Material to Major Producer
Additional mixed rare earth concentrate samples have been sent from the Ashram Deposit to a major global REE player.
Read more → https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/873-tsx-venture/cce/154417-commerce-resources-ships-additional-sample-of-ashram-mixed-ree-concentrate-to-major-global-rare-earth-producer.html

Brunswick Exploration Confirms Multiple Pegmatites at Elrond Project
Summer prospecting in the James Bay region has revealed five new pegmatite dykes, three of which are spodumene-bearing.
Read more → https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/2893-tsx-venture/brw/154408-brunswick-exploration-discovers-new-pegmatites-at-elrond-project-including-three-with-visible-spodumene.html// 

On the home front we had a realtor through our house yesterday, we have an interesting property in that we’re just about in the middle of the city, but we’re located in the regional district. It’s a perfect acreage for a small business as you can have 5 employees and can throw up some signage on one of the busiest streets in town.

We’re going to hear back in a few days where the realtor thinks it will land for pricing and decide if renting or selling makes the most sense.

At this point we’re a garage sale and a few trips to the dump away from being ready to move to Ontario, well, that and the packing of 4000+ teacups (not an exaggeration) for my wife’s business. That’s another story.

T-33 days.

Have a great week all,

- Lee