Long Harbour-Mount Arlington Heights – Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance while explaining new opportunities for Canadian workers, said: “Good afternoon. First, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the ancestral, unceded homelands of the Mi’kmaq and Beothuk. I also want to say how nice it has been to spend some time with my friend, Ken McDonald, who is such an excellent voice for the people of Avalon and for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“It’s exciting to see so many young people here, too. The future of our economy—the future of our country—is being built right here, right now, at plants like this one all across Canada. The next few years are a pivotal moment for Canada. Because today, we are navigating two fundamental shifts in the global economy. First, in what is the most significant economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution, our friends and partners around the world—chief among them, the United States—are investing heavily to build clean economies and the net-zero industries of tomorrow.
“At the same time, Putin and the pandemic have revealed to the world’s democracies the risks of economic reliance on dictatorships. As a result, our allies are moving quickly to friendshore their economies and build their critical supply chains through democracies like our own, to build their critical supply chains through the work you’re doing here right now.
“Newfoundland and Labrador is an incredible example of what the future can hold for Canada. Last year, Canada and Germany signed an agreement to provide clean hydrogen, from right here in Newfoundland and Labrador, to help power the German economy. Low-carbon nickel that is mined at Voisey’s Bay and processed by workers in Long Harbour will end up in Tesla’s electric vehicle batteries.
“It’s great for people here—great for our whole country—so thank you very much. You are producing nickel that will be used to build batteries for cars that will be driven around the world. Those cars are going to get their start with these nickel rounds here in Newfoundland and Labrador. They’re going to get their start in Canada. This is truly a terrific accomplishment for everyone who is here.
“With a global economy that is more reliant than ever, and will become ever more reliant, on critical minerals—for everything from cell phones to cars to appliances—there are so many opportunities for you, for people in Newfoundland and Labrador. From nickel, to copper, to cobalt, Newfoundland and Labrador is rich with the critical minerals that the world needs most. Those three are all covered by the clean technology manufacturing tax credit. That was on purpose. Our allies and their leading businesses want to buy these critical minerals from Canada. They want to buy them from you rather than from places like Russia or China.
“That means great careers like the careers all of you have here. That’s why the budget we tabled last week included a major investment tax credit for clean technology manufacturing—including for extracting, processing, and recycling the critical minerals like the ones that Newfoundland and Labrador has in such fortunate abundance. These tax credits build on the $3.8 billion Critical Minerals Strategy we launched in last year’s budget.
“It’s a step by step plan that is going to help all of you—the workers across Newfoundland and Labrador who mine, and process, and sell the essential resources that the world needs. This is going to mean more investment. We are counting on Vale—and more vibrant communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. It will mean more great careers across the province—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. Something I’ve noticed, as I’ve been going around the plant today, is the emphasis on the work but also the wonderful families and the wonderful community that the work sustains. That’s how I believe we need to think about things. We want to do great things in Canada—build great things, have great jobs—because that enables us to have great lives, to have great families, to have great communities.
“It’s because of the things you do—and the things you’re going to do in the years to come—that I have never been more optimistic about the future of this amazing province and the future of our great country than I am today. Thank you very much.”