Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials HomeCommoditiesMiningFormer Trump cabinet member Kristi Noem signs on with Vancouver mining companyThe ousted head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is joining NovaRed Mining Inc. in an advisory roleLast updated 6 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has become a strategic advisor for B.C.-based NovaRed Mining inc. Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty ImagesThe fiery former head of the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Homeland Security has taken on an advisory role with NovaRed Mining, a Vancouver critical-minerals exploration company.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorIn a statement released Tuesday, NovaRed said Kristi Noem is joining the company as a strategic adviser in its “mission of acquiring and advancing critical-mineral exploration opportunities through its artificial intelligence-enhanced technology platform.”“Kristi brings exceptional leadership experience and a deep understanding of the policy, regulatory and economic factors that influence infrastructure investment, resource development and long-term economic growth,” said Brian Goss, the CEO of NovaRed Mining. “Her perspective and experience working across government and industry will be valuable as NovaRed advances its corporate development strategy and evaluates new opportunities.”Noem was the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security during a controversial immigration crackdown and drew widespread condemnation when she called two people killed by federal agents “domestic terrorists.” Her tenure was marked by leadership scandals in the department and violent confrontations in major U.S. cities between protesters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.But it was ultimately a pricey advertising campaign in which she posed atop a horse in western gear in front of Mount Rushmore that was her undoing. Noem claimed U.S. President Donald Trump signed off on spending $220 million on the campaign, and that was the last straw after the string of other controversies. She was dumped from Trump’s cabinet in March.Working with a B.C.-based mining company — even one with several principals who have cross-border connections — could be seen as a surprising development given Noem’s provocative statements about Canada during her tenure. They include repeating Trump’s remarks that Canada should be the “51st state” during a March 2025 visit to a historic Quebec library that straddles the Vermont border.When Trump slapped tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China in February 2025, Noem told Meet the Press the countries “will feel pain” if they don’t co-operate with U.S. efforts to secure the borders and stop the flow of illegal drugs and immigrants.NovaRed said Noem’s appointment is about assembling a team with expertise across government, industry, capital markets, infrastructure and resource development. The company seeks to combine “machine learning-driven geospatial intelligence with traditional geological expertise” to generate domestic exploration opportunities.“In an increasingly competitive global environment, secure and reliable access to critical minerals has become an important economic and national security priority,” said Noem in the statement.“NovaRed is pursuing opportunities in sectors that will remain important to long-term growth and supply-chain resilience, and I am excited to contribute my experience in public policy, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning as the company advances its initiatives.” Then U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem accompanies President Donald Trump during a visit to a detention centre in the Florida Everglades.NovaRed’s goal is to explore, acquire and develop copper-gold porphyry projects in B.C. using AI and geospatial technology. It hold about 160 square kilometres in the Quesnel area near another producing copper mining operation.Noem’s appointment follows others tapping experience from south of the border. Last week, NovaRed named retired U.S. army Col. Mark A. Calabrese as an adviser, and retired U.S. navy Commander Phil Ehr is also on the advisory board. CEO Goss has himself done business in the Western U.S. and Michigan.Noem currently serves as special envoy to the Shield of the Americas, Trump’s multinational effort to crack down on drug cartels, limit mass immigration and counter foreign interference in the West. Member states include several in Central and South America but not major U.S. allies Canada or Mexico.Noem has also served as governor of South Dakota and as the U.S. congresswoman for the state. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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