First Social Acceptability Barometer for Canada's Mining Sector - Canadians Strongly Support Mining Activity, but not Without Conditions.

The federal budget presented on November 4 announced a $2-billion, five-year Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund. A recent Canada-wide study shows strong public support for mining the critical minerals needed for renewable energy technologies. Seven in ten respondents consider these minerals essential to the country's energy future, and a similar proportion support prioritizing domestic production over imports.

Transfert Environnement et Société, in collaboration with Voconiq, is releasing the first Social Acceptability Barometer for Canada's Mining Sector. This new study provides a national portrait of public perceptions and expectations toward mining across all provinces and territories. A separate report highlights specific findings for Quebec.

Based on a survey of more than 4,800 respondents across Canada, the Barometer offers a detailed analysis of trust, transparency and governance issues that influence the social acceptability of mining. The report comes at a time when global demand for critical and strategic minerals is growing and public expectations for sustainability continue to rise.

"The mineral wealth of Canada includes gold, copper, high-purity iron, potash, uranium, lithium and rare earth elements. This positions the country as a key global supplier of the technologies driving the transition to clean energy and supporting both our national interests and those of our allies," said Marc-Olivier Fortin, co-author of the Social Acceptability Barometer: Canadian Mining Sector 2025.

Key national findings 
Conditional Support for Critical Minerals and Gold
Public sentiment strongly favours the mining of critical minerals essential for renewable energy technologies such as lithium, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements. About 70 percent of respondents prefer domestic production to imports. Gold remains highly valued, although support for opening new local gold mines is more limited. This contrast highlights a nuanced position: strategic support at the national level, and more caution at the local level. Canadians expect clear guarantees: strong environmental management, site restoration and respect for workers' rights.