Canada clears the first mine approved under the Impact Assessment Act since 2019
Ontario separately fast-tracked Crawford under its One Project, One Process framework early in 2026.
The Globe reported the deposit holds the world’s second-largest nickel reserve and is expected to become the largest nickel mine in the Western world once built.
Selby has tied the project to supply-chain security, noting that most of the world’s nickel now flows from Indonesia through operations largely under Chinese control, while Canada Nickel says Crawford will feed defence, aerospace, stainless steel, electric-vehicle battery and advanced-manufacturing supply chains.
Sector reaction ran supportive.
Red Cloud Securities analyst Ron Stewart called the milestone the product of years of technical work and First Nations engagement, as per the Northern Miner, and Noble Mineral Exploration, which held the Crawford ground until 2019 and retains an interest, publicly congratulated Canada Nickel on the approval.
