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Meliadine site in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Photo by Cole Burston/Bloomberg filesOur country finds itself at an important crossroads as the inaugural Canada Investment Summit approaches.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 AccountorEvery generation of Canadians faces a defining economic challenge. Ours is whether Canada can turn its considerable strengths into lasting prosperity. At a time of growing trade uncertainty and geopolitical rupture, governments, investors and industry leaders are focused on strengthening our economy, enhancing energy security, diversifying exports and advancing projects of national significance.Momentum is building. Canada had secured more than 20 economic and defence partnerships and attracted $97 billion in foreign investment commitments over the previous 12 months, according to the federal government’s announcement of the Canada Investment Summit in April 2026. These commitments reflect growing confidence in Canada’s future and in its potential to compete on the global stage.Canada is uniquely positioned to succeed. Few countries can match its combination of world-class resources, sustained global investment interest, highly skilled talent and innovative partnerships capable of driving long-term economic growth.However, announcements alone do not create prosperity. The country’s success will depend on our ability to convert commitments into tangible projects that create jobs, expand exports and strengthen our long-term economic competitiveness that will generate lasting value.Mining is one of Canada’s most powerful economic engines and is uniquely positioned to help drive our country’s next phase of economic growth. We produce 60 minerals and metals and are among the top 10 producers in the world for 31 of those.We lead the world in mining knowledge, driving innovation across geoscience, engineering and environmental stewardship. Canada is home to a globally leading innovative mining supply and services sector with more than 4,000 companies specializing across all areas of mining, including environmental services and mine automation, with a presence in almost 100 countries.Backed by decades of operational experience and strict frameworks like the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining standard, Canadian projects deliver efficiency without sacrificing responsibility. The mining sector is making a significant contribution to economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Over 500 agreements are in place between mining companies and Indigenous communities, including 23 with Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.This operational excellence is backed by a stable legal and investment landscape. At its core are the Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange, the world’s largest centres for mining finance. Together, they host roughly 40 per cent of all public mining companies globally and have channeled $43 billion in equity over the past five years to fuel global discovery.Amid geopolitical shifts and trade uncertainty, mining remains a vital driver of Canada’s economic advantage. Its impact goes far beyond ounces, exports and contribution to gross domestic product; it builds communities, develops infrastructure and opens doors to new opportunities.As a premier globally competitive sector, Canadian mining secures international investment, strengthens trade diversification and delivers lasting nationwide benefits. From partner-sharing with Indigenous and local businesses to creating high-skilled jobs, mining unlocks economic prosperity in Northern and remote regions, anchoring community prosperity for generations.Attracting investment is merely the first step. To transform opportunity into tangible results, governments must cultivate an environment where projects can advance with regulatory certainty. This requires accelerated, predictable decision-making, expanded workforce and community capacity, as well as strategic infrastructure corridors designed to unlock regional growth.It has been estimated that the average permitting of a mine in Canada from discovery to operation is almost 20 years. As the Western world seeks to expand access to critical and strategic minerals, governments of all stripes are trying to speed up the permitting process.Recent proposals by the federal government to transfer specific decision-making authorities from cabinet to the responsible minister and to create a consultation hub for permits across multiple departments have the potential to reduce timelines.By securing these core fundamentals, the mining sector can transcend resource extraction to build a more resilient and prosperous nation.Infrastructure limitations remain a primary barrier to transforming discovered deposits into operational mines, particularly north of the 60th parallel. Building a mine in northern regions costs up to 2.5 times more than in southern locales, with roughly 70 per cent of this cost premium directly tied to deficient infrastructure, according to research by the Mining Association of Canada.To bridge this gap, future projects should prioritize multi-use infrastructure delivered through public-private partnerships, leveraging early stage government risk-sharing to crowd in private capital. Crucially, these frameworks must embed Indigenous partnerships, revenue-sharing models, specialized training and localized hiring commitments from the outset.These priorities are not new. The barriers are well understood, the solutions are largely known and years of consultations have produced no shortage of recommendations. The time for analysis is largely behind us, and our sector is hopeful that this federal government is hearing us.The question is no longer whether Canada has the resources, talent or investment potential to succeed. The question is whether governments and industry alike can move with the urgency and determination needed to turn those strengths into the milestone projects that build stronger communities and long-term prosperity for every province, territory and corner of our country.Interest from investors exists. Capital is available. The opportunity is clear. The imperative now is to deliver.The moment is ours to seize.Sean Boyd, chair, and Ammar Al-Joundi, chief executive, Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. 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. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.