Critical minerals: François Legault wants to speed up mining projects

Premier François Legault, left, meeting the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, in Hanover, during his economic mission to Germany, Monday, March 31, 2025. (The Canadian Press/Thomas Laberge)

With the uncertainty caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs and the job losses that could ensue, Premier François Legault wants to put his foot on the accelerator for mining projects so Quebec can exploit its critical minerals more quickly.

“We’re going to have to have shorter lead times. We need to get rid of all the work and bureaucracy involved in obtaining permits,” he said on Monday.

“In the mining sector, we have a golden opportunity,” added the premier.

Legault is currently on an economic mission to Hanover in Germany to promote Quebec’s comparative advantages, including critical minerals.

“A number of German companies have told me that, whether for defence or cars, they need all sorts of critical minerals that we have. So we need to deliver projects more quickly,” he maintained.

Faced with American threats to withdraw from NATO and an increasingly aggressive Russia, the European Union recently announced its intention to invest the colossal sum of 800 billion euros to rearm.

The premier believes that Quebec could take advantage of this situation and win defence-related contracts from Europe.

“We’re in a situation where we’re under attack from Mr. Trump. We’re going to lose jobs. There is a great opportunity to develop and transform critical minerals in Quebec and to create good jobs in Quebec’s regions,” said Legault.

The premier also suggested that assessments by the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement - commonly known as BAPE - could be carried out more quickly.

On Monday, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre proposed the creation of an “energy corridor” to speed up approvals for “essential infrastructure” in Canada.

Earlier this month, he suggested designating areas as “Canadian build-ready zones” that would, in effect, be “pre-approved and pre-authorized zones” for projects such as mines, data centres, power plants and LNG liquefaction plants.

Legault did not go as far as Poilievre.

“Each project is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. You have to look at the environmental impact, whether it’s socially acceptable and whether it’s safe for employees. So, I don’t think we can do without carrying out certain studies for each project. However, they need to be done much more quickly, and we need to stop duplicating efforts. The federal government has to get out of this,” he explained.

Legault will return from his trip to Germany on April 2, the same day the U.S. president plans to impose a new round of tariffs.

This is Legault’s first mission to Germany, although he has visited France on a number of occasions (and has not ruled out a return visit).

Germany is Quebec’s leading economic partner in Europe. The province exported $1.6 billion worth of products to Germany in 2024.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 31, 2025.