Canada needs faster mining project approvals

Record crowds and a record-setting exhibition floor marked PDAC 2026, held March 1–4 in Toronto. The annual convention of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada welcomed 32,155 participants from around the world — the highest attendance in the event’s 94-year history — alongside more than 1,300 exhibitors, creating the largest trade show footprint PDAC has ever hosted.

Throughout the convention, the Canadian Mining Journal conducted a series of on-site interviews with industry leaders, executives, and technology providers, capturing insights on project development, critical minerals, innovation, and workforce challenges shaping the sector. These conversations will soon be featured on our YouTube channel as well as in upcoming editions of the journal. Our team also engaged with industry stakeholders across the convention floor, documenting emerging trends and perspectives from one of the mining industry’s most influential global gatherings.

My discussions with industry leaders pointed to a clear consensus: Canada’s mining sector must prioritize faster project approvals and development timelines to bring mineral resources into production and strengthen domestic processing capacity.

This April issue of the journal features several articles on mine electrification, including our fully charged annual BEVs roundup on pages 12 to 16, along with additional features on the same topic on pages 37 and 41.

Articles focused on tailings management, closure, and reclamation appear on pages 18 to 29. Readers will also find three CEO and executive interviews addressing key issues facing the mining industry on pages 17 and 30 to 34, alongside articles covering international and underground mining.

Finally, our May edition will explore the cutting edge of mining innovation, highlighting developments in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, robotics, autonomous operations, communications, and smart software as the industry accelerates its digital transformation. The issue will also include a special report on Mining in Canada. Editorial contributions can be submitted to the Editor in Chief before April 11, 2026.

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