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TORONTO — Alberta is developing a new incentive program aimed at boosting investment in its critical minerals sector, Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean announced Monday.
Jean, who is also the MLA for Fort McMurray Lac La Biche, unveiled the plan during remarks at a PDAC 2026 session focused on small modular reactors, critical minerals and energy security.
The program, targeted for launch in 2027, forms part of Alberta’s Minerals Strategy and Action Plan, which the government says is intended to unlock mineral development, create jobs and strengthen the province’s role in processing and refining.
“Minerals are essential to our economic future, energy security and global competitiveness,” Jean said. “Alberta has an important role to play as a leading North American processor and refiner of critical minerals. These incentives will attract the needed jobs and investment to meet this demand.”
The province says it is exploring measures including non refundable mineral processing tax credits, expanded access to Crown land and a possible flow through share tax credit to encourage exploration.
Alberta has significant lithium potential, with the Alberta Geological Survey estimating about 82.5 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in place. Lithium in the province can be extracted from brine in aging oil and gas wells.
The government says Alberta’s resource base also includes iron, vanadium, rare earth elements, uranium and petroleum coke used for synthetic graphite production.
The incentive program also aligns with a Western Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy signed with several provinces and territories aimed at positioning the region as a global supplier of responsibly sourced critical minerals.
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