Finance Minister Says Refining Critical Minerals Is Key to Becoming a Competitive Supplier

Finance and National Revenue Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Nov. 7, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sean KilpatrickFinance Minister François-Philippe Champagne says his goal is to make Canada “the NATO partner of choice,” noting that refining critical minerals is “the name of the game” for becoming a competitive supplier.“Exploration, extraction is something, but what we need is refining. That’s the key,” Champagne told a business audience in Calgary on Nov. 10, while answering questions about the Liberal government’s recently tabled budget. “Refining is the name of the game.”