CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY
Canada’ s capabilities
Railveyor’ s innovative haulage system is gaining traction for surface mine long haulage installations as it is designed to operate on a narrow corridor with minimal ground preparation
And there is more to come, especially in relation to critical minerals. At PDAC 2026, Tim Hodgson, Canada’ s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, unveiled a comprehensive investment package totalling over C $ 3.6 billion to advance Canada’ s critical minerals sector. The investment package encompasses three major funding initiatives:
• Critical Minerals Project Funding( C $ 165.2 million): This funding is to be allocated to 22 Canadian projects with the goal of accelerating planning, development and processing capacity. The Government expects that this will result in over C $ 434 million in private investment in 8 provinces.
• First and Last Mile Fund( C $ 1.5 billion): This new infrastructure fund will support the construction of enabling infrastructure for mining operations – including roads, transmission lines and processing facilities, as well as transportation routes to domestic and international markets. The fund includes dedicated funding to enable Indigenous leadership, engagement and participation at all stages of the process.
• Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund( C $ 2 billion): Set to launch in Spring 2026, this fund will back strategic federal investments – including equity investments, loan guarantees, and supply agreements – to accelerate projects toward Final Investment Decision and diversify domestic mineral production.
Canada has world class surface and underground mines but also leading mining tech companies with significant global influence, reports Paul Moore
Mergers and acquisitions have brought a number of Canadian mining equipment and technology suppliers into foreign ownership in the past decade – examples include HLS- Hardline( now part of Hexagon), Meglab, FVT Research, Fordia and 3D-P( now part of Epiroc), Motion Metrics( now part of Weir Group), Geosoft and Minalytix( now part of Seequent), Newtrax( now part of Sandvik)- and many others.
But at the same time many of these companies still retain important locations in Canada. And many other mining industry stalwarts remain Canadian-owned, especially contractors, rebuilders & fabricators, engineering specialists and consultants based in major Ontario and Quebec mining
14 hubs. And new innovators and start-ups are appearing all the time. Organisations like MineConnect- Ontario’ s Mining Supply & Services Association- play an important role in showcasing and promoting the capabilities of Canadian and Canadian-based mining technology companies; while others like CEMI and the MICA Network help innovators commercialise via public and private sector investments. NORCAT through NORCAT Innovation and NORCAT Underground Centre also plays an increasingly important role as a support hub for start-ups, especially in relation to trials and testing.
Last but not least, the mining industry itself in Canada is booming, both expansions of existing mines but also development and approval of new greenfield operations.
Railveyor tech well positioned to support northern Ontario’ s Ring of Fire
Tas Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer, Railveyor told IM that as global demand for critical minerals accelerates, Canada’ s ability to deliver will depend on the resilience of its local value chains – which must effectively integrate technology, partnerships and policy.“ In regions of high mineral potential like the Ring of Fire, which are sensitive to infrastructure realities and social impacts, alternative technology solutions such as Railveyor illustrate the value of homegrown Canadian innovation.”
Northern Ontario’ s Ring of Fire is an undeveloped mineral region hosting significant deposits of nickel, chromite, copper, platinum and other minerals essential to electrification, battery manufacturing and advanced technologies.
This region has the potential to materially strengthen Canada’ s position as a stable, trusted supplier of critical minerals in a
International Mining | APRIL 2026