Saskatchewan promotes mining, energy investment on western Canada tour

Saskatchewan’s energy and resources minister is promoting the province as a top destination for mining and energy investment during a multi-day visit to British Columbia and Alberta focused on export access, infrastructure and interprovincial cooperation.

Chris Beaudry said the trip is aimed at supporting growth in Saskatchewan’s resource sectors by strengthening connections to markets and working with other jurisdictions to improve shared infrastructure.

Chris Beaudry

Beaudry attended the Western Mining Ministers Summit in Vancouver on Jan. 25, where ministers from western provinces and northern territories discussed economic corridors and access to export routes, including ports on the northwest coast, Hudson Bay and Grays Bay. The ministers signed a memorandum of understanding committing to reduce unnecessary delays for major natural resource projects as part of efforts toward a Western Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy.

Saskatchewan is Canada’s largest primary producer of critical minerals, including potash and uranium, and the province has been positioning itself as a key supplier for global supply chains.

On Jan. 26, Beaudry attended AME Roundup, a major mineral exploration conference in Vancouver, where he met with resource companies and toured a lithium processing facility operated by Saltworks Technologies Inc. Saltworks is working with EMP Metals Corp. on Project Aurora, a lithium refining demonstration plant planned for southeastern Saskatchewan. The project has received provincial support through the Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive.

The minister also visited the Port of Vancouver, one of the main export gateways for Saskatchewan commodities. Provincial officials say expanding port capacity is increasingly important as production grows across sectors such as potash, energy products and critical minerals.

Beaudry concluded the trip in Calgary on Jan. 28 with meetings focused on Saskatchewan’s oil and gas industry and the province’s target of increasing production to 600,000 barrels per day by 2030.

The government says it will continue working with industry to support investment and long-term competitiveness in the sector.