Canada’s security depends on our critical minerals—it’s time for Ottawa to match ambition with action

Too many promising exploration projects stall long before they reach production because early-stage exploration remains an afterthought in federal policy.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Governments at both the provincial and federal level have been clear about their desire to see development move forward in northwestern Ontario’s Ring of Fire, writes Greg Ferron.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY GREG FERRON

February 25, 2026

Canada has entered an increasingly uncertain world in which trade agreements and defence alliances are being rapidly rewritten. It’s something the federal government has promised to meet head-on: bolstering defence spending, reaffirming and signing new international commit...

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