The Canadian government is advancing a strategy to transform its economy by emphasizing self-sufficiency and resilience to global shocks, underpinned by $116 billion in new nation-building infrastructure and critical minerals projects.
In a significant move toward securing its economic future and strengthening global supply chains, the Government of Canada announced today the referral of Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine to the Major Projects Office (MPO). The announcement, made by the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, underscores Canada's commitment to becoming a powerhouse in the extraction and upgrading of critical minerals.
This project, located near Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec, is a crucial element in Canada's broader strategy to move away from reliance on a single trade partner toward a more resilient and self-sufficient economy. The Matawinie Mine, an open-pit graphite operation, will address major domestic gaps in the graphite value chain, which currently lacks significant domestic mining and refined production.
The Matawinie Mine is designed to integrate fully with NMG’s planned Bécancour Battery Material Plant, creating a complete, domestic value chain for battery-grade graphite in Québec. The mine will extract natural graphite, which will then be processed into high-purity active anode material for lithium-ion batteries using Québec’s clean hydroelectricity. This finished spherical graphite is essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage systems.
According to Minister LeBlanc, this initiative is "the type of projects essential for our defence and economic security," and will "unleash Canada’s boundless economic potential." NMG is poised to become one of North America’s largest fully integrated producers of natural graphite active anode material, a key step in reducing global
The Matawinie Mine referral is part of the second tranche of projects announced today by the Prime Minister. Combined with the first tranche unveiled in September—which included $60 billion in investments across nuclear power, LNG, critical minerals, and new trade corridors—the total commitment stands at more than $116 billion in Canada's economy.
The Matawinie Mine alone is expected to draw $1.8 billion in investment and create over one thousand new careers. Construction is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with production commencing by mid-2028.
The project’s referral to the Major Projects Office (MPO), which was launched in August 2025, signifies its importance. The MPO, guided by an Indigenous Advisory Council, is designed to ensure major projects advance efficiently while embedding principles of reconciliation and Indigenous economic participation. As Canada’s first integrated graphite operation, the Matawinie Mine will also serve as a strategic supplier to EV and defence producers.
