Alliance will ‘identify and advance industry-led solutions to strengthen the skilled workforce’
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has launched the Mining and Minerals Workforce Alliance, the first of six federal sector alliances.
According to ESDC, the alliance will "identify and advance industry-led solutions to strengthen the skilled workforce needed at all stages of producing minerals and metals." It will convene employers, labour, post-secondary institutions, Indigenous partners and under-employed groups to build a workforce strategy grounded in the real needs of the sector.
“Canada’s workforce is strongest when employers and training partners work together,” says Patty Hajdu, minister of jobs and families. “As external pressures continue to affect key sectors, these investments will help empower Canadian workers with the skills they need to adapt. The Alliance will serve a crucial role in ensuring that Canada’s mining workforce is well equipped to support the ambitious national infrastructure projects that will strengthen Canada and enhance our economic independence.”
The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) will serve as the lead delivery organization, strongly supported by the Mining Association of Canada, Hajdu says.
Funding, sectors and scale
ESDC says the six alliances carry a combined investment of $81 million over five years. The measures were first announced on Sept. 5, 2025, to support workers affected by tariffs, and were later echoed in Budget 2025.
The six priority sectors are:
- mining and minerals
- advanced manufacturing, including AI
- energy and electricity
- transportation and supply chains
- housing and construction
- the care economy.
ESDC says these sectors account for over one-third of Canada's GDP and employ roughly eight million people.
In 2024, mining contributed $112 billion directly to GDP and employed about 438,000 workers, while mineral production totalled $64 billion, according to the federal government. Canada produces 60 minerals and metals across 200 mines and is a key global producer of copper, nickel and cobalt, with advanced projects underway for rare earth elements, lithium and graphite.
Minerals alliance welcome news
MiHR executive director Ryan Montpellier called the moment pivotal.
“Demand for critical minerals is growing, new technologies are reshaping how resources are extracted and the need for a skilled, adaptable and inclusive workforce has never been greater,” he says. “MiHR is proud to bring employers, labour, educators and Indigenous partners together through the Mining and Minerals Workforce Alliance to build talent pipelines that will help drive our nation’s economic resilience. This collaboration ensures that the people who power our sector have the skills, opportunities and support they need to succeed – and that Canada remains a global leader in responsible resource development.”
Pierre Gratton, president and CEO, Mining Association of Canada (MAC), adds: “MAC greatly supports MiHR’s leadership of the Alliance, which provides a valuable forum for collaboration and action – helping ensure the sector has the talent needed for growth across the mining value chain and the industry supports other sectors crucial to Canada’s economic prosperity.”
The alliances are part of the early implementation of "Team Canada Strong," intended to align workforce strategies with training programs and employer needs while building national capacity in housing, infrastructure and defence, according to ESDC.
In April, Ottawa released its 2026 Spring Economic Update, Canada Strong For All. “At this pivotal moment in Canada’s history, we’re charting a course through the fog of uncertainty and global headwinds with strength, determination, and ambition—and building one strong Canadian economy, by Canadians, for Canadians,” said François‑Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue.
