July 7, 2026 Trail, British Columbia Natural Resources Canada
Canada is entering a new era of mining, defined by speed, scale and purpose. Introduced in Budget 2025, the new Canada Critical Minerals Accelerator (CCMA) will catalyze private sector investment, get projects built faster and secure the critical minerals Canada and the world need for economic sovereignty, national security and the energy transition.
Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, launched the Canada Critical Minerals Accelerator (CCMA) and announced a Strategic Investment Agreement signed by the CCMA, the Canada Growth Fund (CGF) and Teck Resources Limited (Teck). The Agreement supports expanding production capacity at Teck's Trail Operations in British Columbia, one of the world's largest fully integrated polymetallic smelting and refining complexes.
The CCMA, a Natural Resources Canada initiative delivered by Export Development Canada (EDC), is a first-of-its-kind investment tool designed to accelerate Canadian critical mineral projects along the value chain from extraction to processing. The CCMA enables the Government of Canada to invest in projects alongside industry, moving them forward while generating investment returns that can be re-invested into more projects that create benefits for Canadians.
Teck's Trail Operations in southern British Columbia currently produces nineteen products, employs over 1,400 people and has a long history of critical minerals production. The expansion is part of an up-to $850-million potential total investment by Teck to sustain and enhance critical minerals processing capacity at its Trail Operations from a portfolio of feed sources, which could double Trail's existing production capacity for germanium and antimony and potentially add new gallium production capacity.
The agreement establishes the commercial framework for an equity-like investment by CGF of up to $400 million directly into the facility. Through the CCMA, the agreement allows the Government of Canada to enter into negotiations on the establishment of an offtake structure, including rights for a portion of future germanium, antimony and gallium produced by Trail. This will build on Canada's position as a reliable global supplier of critical minerals.
The federal government is working with provinces and territories to align approaches and priorities and get projects moving through a Team Canada approach. As a priority project under British Columbia's Look West strategy, Teck's Trail project will also benefit from streamlined regulatory processes for any authorizations needed and the potential for support under the B.C. Strategic Investment Fund.
Today's announcement underscores Canada's commitment to expanding a reliable supply of the critical minerals that are key to our economic and national security. Canada is moving decisively to deliver the projects that will power our economy, strengthen and diversify our supply chains and position Canada as a trusted global supplier of critical minerals and an energy and natural resources superpower.
