THE DISPATCH

The Friday Dispatch

🧠 THE CANADIAN RESOURCE SECTOR QUIZ — MARCH 2026 EDITION

"Give yourself 10 points if you answered ___"

How well do you actually know what's happening in the sector you work in? Let's find out.

We talk about critical minerals, pipelines, and energy policy all day long — but do you actually know the numbers? Drop your score in the replies. No judgment. (Okay, some judgment.)

QUESTION 1 — The LNG Question Everyone Should Know

LNG Canada officially shipped its first-ever cargo from Kitimat, B.C. in what month?

• A) March 2025

• B) June 2025

• C) September 2025

• D) December 2024

QUESTION 2 — The Big Pipeline Number

How many barrels per day does the Trans Mountain pipeline system currently move from Alberta to the West Coast?

• A) 590,000 barrels/day

• B) 750,000 barrels/day

• C) 890,000 barrels/day

• D) 1.1 million barrels/day

QUESTION 3 — The Money Move

At PDAC 2026, the federal government announced a brand new "First and Last Mile Fund" for mining infrastructure. How much is it worth?

• A) $500 million

• B) $1.5 billion

• C) $3.2 billion

• D) $750 million

QUESTION 4 — The Tariff That Stings

When the U.S. first imposed tariffs on Canada in early 2025, what specific tariff rate was applied to Canadian energy exports (oil, gas, coal)?

• A) 25%

• B) 5%

• C) 10%

• D) 15%

QUESTION 5 — Uranium is Having a Moment

Spot uranium surged dramatically in January 2026. What price did it briefly hit — its highest point since early 2024?

• A) $68/lb

• B) $84/lb

• C) $101.26/lb

• D) $122/lb

QUESTION 6 — Show Me the Sovereign Fund

Canada's upcoming Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund — a first-of-its-kind program launching this spring — is valued at how much?

• A) $500 million

• B) $1 billion

• C) $2 billion

• D) $5 billion

QUESTION 7 — Critical 6

The federal government has specifically identified six priority critical minerals for targeted investment and policy support. Which of the following is NOT on that list?

• A) Lithium

• B) Cobalt

• C) Manganese

• D) Copper

QUESTION 8 — The National Energy Corridor

On March 4, 2026, a major national energy corridor partnership was announced. How many provinces and territories are part of it?

• A) 4

• B) 7

• C) 9

• D) 12

QUESTION 9 — The Crown Jewel Pipeline

Trans Mountain became fully operational in what month and year?

• A) January 2023

• B) October 2023

• C) May 2024

• D) February 2025

QUESTION 10 — Minerals Unlocked

At the 2026 Critical Minerals Forum during PDAC, Canada secured how many new Critical Minerals Production Alliance partnerships?

• A) 10

• B) 20

• C) 30

• D) 45

✅ ANSWER KEY

Q1 — B: June 2025
LNG Canada's first cargo departed Kitimat on June 30, 2025 — and by November, they'd shipped 25 cargoes. Phase 1 capacity sits at 14 million tonnes per year. Canada is officially in the LNG export business.

Q2 — C: 890,000 barrels/day
Trans Mountain is the only pipeline delivering oil to Canada's West Coast. Expansion plans are already targeting an additional 90,000 bpd by Q1 2027. The taps are open — and Asia is thirsty.

Q3 — B: $1.5 billion
Minister Hodgson launched the $1.5B First and Last Mile Fund right at PDAC on March 2, 2026 — with $114.9M already committed to the first five projects. Shovels meet spreadsheets.

Q4 — C: 10%
While most Canadian goods were hit with the full 25% tariff, Canadian energy products (oil, gas, coal) got a "discounted" 10% rate. Lucky us. Try explaining that as a win at the dinner table.

Q5 — C: $101.26/lb
Uranium surged 24% in January 2026 alone — its highest point since the February 2024 peak of $107/lb. With a U.S. ban on Russian enriched uranium looming by 2028, the Athabasca Basin is looking more strategic by the day.

Q6 — C: $2 billion
Canada's Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund will make equity investments, loan guarantees, and supply agreements to fast-track mine development to Final Investment Decision. Spring 2026 launch. Watch this one closely.

Q7 — C: Manganese
Ottawa's six priority minerals are lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements. Manganese didn't make the cut — respectfully.

Q8 — C: 9
The National Energy Corridor Partnership includes B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Yukon, PEI, Nova Scotia, and the Northwest Territories. Ontario is conspicuously absent. Draw your own conclusions.

Q9 — C: May 2024
After years of delays, cost overruns, and protests, TMX finally began full operations in May 2024 — unlocking tidewater access and a whole new conversation about Indo-Pacific energy markets.

Q10 — C: 30
Canada secured 30 new partnerships and unlocked $12.1 billion in mining project capital at the 2026 Critical Minerals Production Alliance round. Not bad for a PDAC week's work.

🏆 HOW DID YOU DO?

90–100 points: A Certified Canadian Resource Sage. You probably attended PDAC this year, have opinions about toll structures, and name your pets after mineral deposits. Respect.

70–80 points: The Informed Professional. You're sharp, you're plugged in, and you probably skimmed the dispatch headlines at 7am while your coffee brewed. Solid.

50–60 points: The Optimistic Generalist. You know Canada has pipelines and uranium is a thing. That's a start.

30–40 points: The Accidental Subscriber. You may have signed up for a recipe newsletter and ended up here. Welcome. Stay a while. The tariffs are wild this year.

0–20 points: The Policy Maker. Apparently deep sector knowledge isn't required for the job. At least you're here now.

// NOTES FROM THE NORTH

If you’re working from somewhere gorgeous today, send me a picture and tell me about it. It snowed here yesterday, I’m pretty over this.

Excited to unveil the Expo on Friday! T-3 days!

-Lee

The Elevator didn't kill the stair industry. Just sayin’