REGINA — Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Chris Beaudry will lead a delegation to Ottawa next week to advocate for federal policy changes that support Saskatchewan’s helium industry, encourage private investment, and strengthen Canada’s role as a reliable supplier of helium to global markets.
The mission highlights Saskatchewan’s leadership in responsibly developing and exporting resources that support economic growth at home and help meet global demand, states a release issued by the provincial government.
Saskatchewan is Canada’s leading producer of helium, supplying about three per cent of the world’s total supply. Through the provincial Helium Action Plan, Saskatchewan is working to grow that share to 10 per cent by 2030. Saskatchewan helium producers have invested approximately $700 million in the province and continued growth will depend on a competitive policy environment that gives companies the confidence to invest and expand, according to the government.
“As a global critical minerals leader, Saskatchewan is well positioned to support industry and be a reliable, long-term supplier of helium,” Beaudry said. “Helium is essential to health care technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, national defence, and scientific research. Aligning federal tax treatment with other critical minerals will help unlock private investment, grow Canada’s helium sector, and ensure security of supply for domestic and international markets.”
Global helium supply chains are heavily concentrated and increasingly vulnerable to disruption. Ongoing geopolitical instability is now threatening a fifth global helium supply shortage in recent decades. Because helium is irreplaceable in most applications, supply reliability is critical, and Canada has an opportunity to respond to demand, says the government.
“The disruption of helium supply from the Middle East has reinforced the importance of building a secure, domestic helium industry,” Nicholas Snyder, chairman and CEO of North American Helium Inc., said. “Canada is growing as a helium producer but cannot remain dependent on other countries for processing capacity. Canada’s first helium liquefier is a shovel-ready critical minerals investment that would support hospitals, national defence, semiconductor manufacturing, and space exploration.”
Industry leaders say clear and competitive federal policies are essential to attracting the private investment needed to move projects forward.
“Competitive tax treatment and access to the targeted critical minerals programs Canada has purposefully established to incentivize critical mineral development are essential for helium explorers and developers to attract the private investment needed to unlock Canada’s significant helium resource, estimated to be the fifth largest in the world,” Chris Bakker, chair of the Helium Developers Association of Canada and CEO of Avanti Helium, said. “The Government of Saskatchewan’s leadership in advancing the required policy changes is greatly appreciated.”
Treating helium the same as other critical minerals would also help make Saskatchewan the home of Canada’s first helium liquefaction facility. This type of facility is required for most high-value uses of helium and for exporting it to international markets. Building one in Saskatchewan would attract new investment, create jobs, expand export opportunities, and help ensure Canadians have a secure and dependable supply of helium, states the government in its release.
