Critical metals, like cobalt, lithium and nickel, go into batteries. Rare earths like dysprosium, neodymium and praseodymium go into electric vehicle motors and wind turbines. Recycling these critical materials is a strategy which would give Ontario workers a shortcut into the value chain between the mine and EV.

Right now, rare earths mining and processing is led by China, which also dominates in other critical minerals such as graphite. Australia and South America are leading sources of lithium. Indonesia leads in nickel, but much of this is controlled by Chinese companies, as well.

In the future, for economic, environmental and security reasons, a circular economy must develop for critical materials.

Today, production of critical metals and rare earths involves value-added work in chemical processing, and it is performed offshore. However, Ontario is amongst the global leaders in technology to recycle critical metals and minerals.

To maximize the economic benefit to you and me of EV and battery production in Ontario—production for which the federal and Ontario governments have agreed to pay dearly—I believe we must be a first mover and leader in the cyclic economy for critical materials. This means supporting the ecosystem around critical minerals processing and recycling before other regions in North America begin to dominate.