Federal minister says electric vehicles key part of Sudbury’s future

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Sudbury is a mining city and a big part of its future lies in the critical minerals that go into making electric batteries for vehicles, Mary Ng says.

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Ng, the federal minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, is in Sudbury this week. Her first stop was a Cambrian College.

“I went to the EV (Battery Electric Vehicle or BEV) Lab and the Critical Mineral Lab,” she said. “What was so terrific about that is really about the foundation of what Sudbury is … a mining city. The future is about those critical minerals that will power the future industries.

“I met with Frontier Lithium, too. They are the industry partner at Cambrian. It is great to see the collaboration that is taking place in (research and development.”

“The EV Lab was so spectacular. You are seeing these young people … the work they are doing on heavy-duty equipment.”

(Frontier Lithium is a Sudbury-based company working to develop lithium deposits in northwestern Ontario. Lithium is a key mineral needed for making electric batteries.)

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The federal and provincial governments are sinking billions into developing the electric vehicle sector in Ontario and Canada

Ng said she was always aware that the role of BEV extends beyond automotive and into industries like underground mining and surface haulage.

“Saving on electricity demand for ventilating diesel exhaust is one piece of this, too. It is all being tackled much more ambitiously now. This young mechanic … she took an internal combustion engine out and converted a utility vehicle into battery operation. It is a learning opportunity. They are developing skills in the area that is really about the future economy.”

Later in the day, Ng and others went to MICA, The Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator, to learn more about the MICA’s mandate which – as its website states – is the “development and commercialization of innovative technologies to make the mining sector more productive and sustainable.”

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“The work they are doing to support innovative companies and solutions … those very solutions to make mining companies greener, more efficient, and more digital. It is very good to see federal investments at work,” observed Ng.

“We then went out to a mine. Today was very focused on mining.”

This stop was with Magna, a junior mining company in Crean Hill,west of Lively.

”There are also so many small- and medium-sized enterprises that support mining along that entire value chain. There is an echo in construction and even food services.”

Ng said she is cognizant of the importance, and growing number, of supply and service companies in the Sudbury region.

She also said she was in town for a combination of activities, including a meeting of the Ontario federal Liberal caucus. Her local colleagues include Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe and B=Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré.

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“About 70 of us will gather. We will plan for this upcoming year,” she said.

“We are doing the hard work Canadians expect us to. A lot of us do this passionately … we are committed to it. To the work. If you are in government you have to deal with the things that concern Canadians.”

On other issues, Ng spoke about the importance of quality, dependable, daycare as being an important one of those concerns. “Childcare is making a big difference for women. As an economic minister, I work with a lot of businesses, including women-owned businesses. If we are able to create more women-owned businesses in our economy, we will grow the economy. But they also need to work in their business. Their employees need to work.

“Part of a smart economic strategy is early learning and childcare. Affordable early learning and childcare.” Ng underscored that other important economic social policies also “work in tandem with the choices a government makes to invest in their people.”

The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government.

sud.editorial@sunmedia.ca

X: @SudburyStar

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