Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Government of Canada has announced a conditional investment of up to $10 million in infrastructure funding for Torngat Metals to support the company’s Strange Lake Northern Transportation Infrastructure Project.
Funding will enable Torngat Metals to start preliminary activities for the construction of a new 170-kilometre road across northern Quebec and Labrador, and to development new port facilities in Labrador. These activities will include consultations with Indigenous communities, environmental assessments, and other planning and design work.
New infrastructure will facilitate the transportation of rare earth elements (REEs) mined in Nunavik, Quebec, to Labrador’s port facilities, enabling their shipment to separation and processing plants.
“This initiative, part of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, will advance critical transportation infrastructure to expand Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador’s production of sustainable critical minerals, including rare earths,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “These minerals are essential for industries like electronics, clean energy, aerospace, automotive, and defence. Infrastructure projects like this one will accelerate mining development and are key to unlocking the economic opportunities ahead.”
Infrastructure improvements are needed for the Torngat Metals’ Strange Lake Rare Earth Project, which will produce globally significant amounts of heavy and light rare earths, including dysprosium, neodymium, praseodymium, and terbium. These elements are crucial for a wide range of high-tech and industrial applications, such as electronics, clean energy, aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and defence systems.
“We are thrilled to receive this vital support from Natural Resources Canada, which highlights the strategic importance of our Strange Lake Project in addressing the global rare earth supply gap,” said Dr. Dirk Naumann, president and CEO of Torngat Metals. “We look forward to working closely with Canadian, Quebec, and Labrador governments to accelerate the development of North America’s only project capable of scaling both heavy and light rare earth production, thereby reinforcing Canada’s leadership in key global supply chains.”
Funding comes from the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) pre-construction stream. The CMIF, a key program under Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy, addresses infrastructure gaps that hinder critical mineral production and facilitates connections between resources and markets. This program is part of Canada’s broader effort to secure its position in the global critical minerals supply chain, with more funding decisions expected in the coming months.
“The Strange Lake Northern Transportation Infrastructure Project is a key step in unlocking Labrador’s immense resource potential, while prioritizing collaboration with Indigenous communities and environmental stewardship. This initiative will play a crucial role in advancing Canada’s leadership in rare earth elements and securing a clean and prosperous future for all Canadians,” said Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and MP for Labrador.
