The Canadian government has made available up to C$40-million in funding, pending final due diligence from Natural Resources Canada, for infrastructure developments in the Yukon that aim to unlock critical minerals development

Member of Parliament Brendan Hanley, on behalf of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, on Friday announced the funding that would be used to connect Canada’s two most western jurisdictions, helping bring the Yukon on to the North American power grid.

The Yukon government plans to undertake prefeasibility activities to advance a 765-km, high-voltage transmission line network that will connect the Yukon electrical grid to the North American grid in British Columbia. This regional project has proposed energy infrastructure located in two priority regions for critical minerals development — Yukon's Cassiar and Tanana regions, and British Columbia’s Golden Triangle. The transmission line could support projects producing critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, platinum group metals, tungsten and zinc in the Yukon and northern British Columbia.

The funding will be provided through the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) – a key programme under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy to address infrastructure gaps and enable sustainable critical minerals production and connect resources to markets through various clean energy, electrification and transportation infrastructure projects. Future funding decisions for projects under the CMIF to further critical minerals infrastructure development are also expected in the coming months.

"I am pleased to highlight that the Yukon is home to the third conditionally approved project under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy's flagship programme, the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund. Developing the necessary infrastructure to access and transport our rich critical mineral resources is a key element in our ability to seize the generational opportunity before us. Connecting the Yukon's grid to northern BC will provide increased opportunities for the Yukon's future,” said Hanley.

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai added that its Grid Connect Project was more than an energy initiative. “It presents a transformative opportunity for all Yukoners. By delivering clean, affordable and reliable clean energy, this project will not only power our homes but also drive economic and social growth. I thank our partners in British Columbia and the federal government for their collaboration on this important project, which will positively impact our northern communities. This is a proud milestone for our government on the path toward a more sustainable energy future."