Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael is leading a delegation of up to 16 critical minerals companies to Canada and the US to strengthen Western Australia’s strategic partnerships and highlight the state’s battery, critical minerals, and energy sectors.
As part of the trade mission, the minister will attend the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), which kicks off next week between 1-4 March 2026 in Toronto. Mining.com.au is a media partner for this year’s convention and will be reporting from the floor.
PDAC is set to host the largest trade show in its history this year, and is considered the ‘Super Bowl’ of the mineral exploration and mining community, attracting up to 30,000 attendees from more than 130 countries each year.
The government’s trade mission builds on strong North American investment and trade ties and the Australia-US critical minerals framework.
Minister Michael says Western Australia is recognised globally as a reliable and ethical supplier of the critical materials needed to support clean energy, defence capability, and advanced manufacturing.
“This visit will strengthen our long-standing relationships with allied partners Canada and the United States and support Western Australian companies seeking investment and offtake partners for major critical minerals projects,” he says.
“This visit will strengthen our long-standing relationships with allied partners Canada and the United States …”
“With both Canada and the US working to diversify supply chains, Western Australia is exceptionally well placed to help meet their needs and to deepen collaboration across our shared economic and strategic priorities.”
The visit seeks to reaffirm Western Australia’s long-standing relationships with Canada and the US, two of the world’s most advanced resources and manufacturing economies. It comes at a time of deepening commercial engagement with North America.
In 2024, Canada was Australia’s fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), with the stock of Canadian FDI in Australia valued at $84 billion.
Canada is a global leader in potash production and ranking among the top five global producers of aluminium, gold, indium, niobium, platinum group metals, titanium concentrate, and uranium, the convention brings together more than 30,000 attendees from over 125 countries.
As of 2023, Canada produced 60 minerals and metals across 200 mines, 6,500 sand, gravel and stone quarries – valued at more than C$71 billion.
The US also remains a major economic partner for Western Australia and the country, ranking as Australia’s largest source market for FDI in 2024, valued at $235.3 billion.
Engagement with the US will build on the bilateral framework on critical minerals and rare earths signed between Australia and the US in October 2025.
The agreement aims to accelerate priority projects and diversify supply chains, opening significant opportunities for Western Australian companies seeking North American investment and access to US supply chains.
Across Toronto, New York, and Washington DC, the Mines Minister will meet with industry, investors, and stakeholders, reinforcing Western Australia’s position as a trusted, ethical, and reliable supplier of critical minerals, which are essential to the global energy transition, defence, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Speaking to this news service, PDAC President Karen Rees says with strong geological potential, deep technical expertise, and a stable operating environment, Canada remains an attractive place to explore and develop projects.
Rees notes Canadian companies are also active globally, contributing experience and innovation across the sector.
“The global mix makes PDAC a key meeting place where investment decisions, partnerships and policy conversations take shape and carry forward well beyond the event itself,” she tells Mining.com.au.
Rees says PDAC this year will focus on the conditions needed to support long-term investment and responsible development in the mining sector.
Core themes will include policy certainty, access to capital and regulatory efficiency, “all of which influence how and where projects advance globally”, she adds.
There’s also a strong emphasis on responsible practices, sustainability, ESG and engagement with indigenous communities integrated across technical, policy and indigenous programming.
This is contemplated by extensive coverage of exploration technology, data and innovation, highlighting tools and approaches that support more efficient, responsible project advancement.”
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: PDAC & Mining.com.au
