Karen Thompson: Canada’s critical minerals strategy must move from policy to plant floor

Canada’s critical minerals sector is moving from policy to execution — but success will depend on what happens on the plant floor, not just in government announcements.

In this interview with the Canadian Mining Journal, Karen Thompson, President and CEO of Haver & Boecker Niagara, shares expert insights on the real challenges facing Canada’s mining and mineral processing sector — from long permitting timelines and modernization gaps to workforce shortages and the need for stronger domestic processing capacity.

Canada is at a turning point in critical minerals development. With new federal funding commitments and growing geopolitical pressure to secure supply chains, the focus is shifting from strategy to execution.

In this in-depth interview, Thompson discusses

• The gap between government ambition and on-the-ground mining reality
• Why permitting timelines remain a major barrier to development
• The urgent need to modernize mineral processing operations
• Equipment innovation, emissions reduction, and sustainability in mining
• Workforce shortages in skilled trades and engineering
• Rebranding mining to attract the next generation — including more women leaders
• How Canada can scale domestic processing and manufacturing capacity

Thompson argues that Canada’s competitiveness in global critical mineral supply chains will depend not just on policy announcements, but on faster regulatory processes, plant-level innovation, and workforce readiness.

As demand for lithium, nickel, rare earths and other critical minerals grows, this conversation highlights what it will take for Canada to move from resource potential to industrial results.

Watch the full interview here: