Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon have written in support of expanding a federal mining exploration tax credit, The Canadian Press reported on October 10, 2026 through BNN Bloomberg.
The Association for Mineral Exploration wants engineering and feasibility studies for critical minerals projects to qualify for support. The change was promised in the Liberals’ 2025 election platform, according to the report, and the association is pressing for its inclusion in the upcoming federal budget.
The funding question sits between discovery and construction. Finding a deposit does not establish that it can become a commercially viable mine: smaller exploration firms also need to finance technical and feasibility work. Association president Todd Stone says that stage presents a significant financing gap.
British Columbia Mining Minister Jagrup Brar raised financing barriers in an August letter to federal ministers Tim Hodgson and François-Philippe Champagne. The supporting jurisdictions argue broader eligibility would help projects advance toward production.
In response, Finance Department spokesperson John Fragos pointed to other federal measures, including expanding the critical mineral exploration tax credit to twelve additional minerals and the Productivity Mega Deduction for investment.
The campaign concerns eligibility for preparatory studies. The requested expansion has not been announced as an enacted change in the report, and the industry’s case for additional support remains distinct from the measures Ottawa says it has already introduced.
