CANADA | GLOBAL NEWS24

Canada is moving to strengthen its position in the global critical minerals industry with a major investment in a new copper and palladium project in Northwestern Ontario.

The Government of Canada announced on September 15, 2026, that the Canada Growth Fund has committed approximately C$140 million to Generation Mining Limited's Marathon Project.

The investment is part of a broader financing initiative designed to advance construction of the large-scale mining project.

STRENGTHENING CANADA'S CRITICAL MINERALS SECTOR

Copper and palladium are important materials for modern industry.

Copper is widely used in electricity networks, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing, while palladium has applications in industrial technologies and emissions-control systems.

Canada is seeking to expand domestic production and processing of critical minerals as global competition for secure mineral supply chains continues to intensify.

The Marathon Project is expected to contribute to this strategy by establishing a new Canadian source of copper and palladium.

MORE THAN 1,200 JOBS EXPECTED

According to the Government of Canada, construction of the Marathon Project is expected to create more than 800 jobs.

Once operational, the mine is projected to support more than 400 direct permanent positions, providing long-term economic opportunities for Northwestern Ontario as well as local and Indigenous communities.

The project covers approximately 36,398 hectares and is expected to operate for at least 13 years, with the possibility of extending its operating life through nearby deposits.

COPPER, PALLADIUM AND PLATINUM PRODUCTION

Government projections indicate that the Marathon Project could produce an annual average of approximately 42 million pounds of copper, 168,000 ounces of palladium and 38,000 ounces of platinum.

These resources are increasingly important as countries seek reliable supplies of materials required for energy infrastructure, manufacturing and emerging technologies.

CANADA EXPANDS ITS GLOBAL MINERALS ROLE

Canada already has a substantial critical minerals industry.

As of March 2025, the country had 56 active mines producing critical minerals, 31 processing facilities and 171 advanced critical mineral projects.

The Canadian government says strengthening domestic mineral production can help attract private investment, support industrial development and improve the resilience of North American supply chains.

The Marathon Project has also previously received C$771,000 through Canada's Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund.

FROM NATURAL RESOURCES TO GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS

The investment reflects Canada's broader effort to move beyond simply possessing natural resources toward developing integrated mining, processing and industrial supply chains.

Critical minerals have become increasingly important to economic security as demand grows for electricity infrastructure, clean-energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

The development of projects such as Marathon could therefore influence not only regional economic activity in Ontario but also Canada's position in international mineral markets.

GLOBAL NEWS24 will continue to follow developments in Canada's economy, natural resources, critical minerals and international investment.

GLOBAL NEWS24 | CANADA EDITION

September 25, 2026