< Previous30 For daily news follow CMM on Facebook and X CMM: What do you think the future holds for critical minerals and Canada’s place in that space? Are you optimistic about the direction we are headed? Ryckman: I’m excited for the future of mining in Canada as we continue to position ourselves as a stable, reliable, sustainable supplier of the critical minerals the word needs to thrive. I’m very passionate about one of the world’s oldest industries, as well as ‘small town’ mining history in Canada. So, I really like hearing Canada’s mining industry being talked about in a positive manner both federally and provincially, and by society in general. While mining hasn’t always been judged favourably – and perhaps justifiably so – mining has undeniably played a significant role in unlocking our country’s economic potential from coast-to-coast-to-coast. And it has contributed significantly to the wealth, prosperity, and convenience society enjoys today. I think that’s something we sometimes lose sight of. I believe we can rise to the occasion and answer the world’s call for critical minerals while simultaneously shaping a more sustainable future for generations to come. It’s our opportunity to seize. M CODY RYCKMAN IS INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY LEAD FOR STANTEC’S MINING, MINERALS, AND METALS TEAM. HE IS A MINING AND MINERAL EXPLORATIONS TECHNOLOGIST WITH EXPERIENCE IN MINING AND CIVIL EARTHWORK PROJECTS. HE’S LED PROJECT MANAGERS AND INTEGRATED TEAMS THROUGH SAFE EXECUTION OF COMPLEX GEOTECHNICAL SURVEILLANCE, SITE INVESTIGATION, AND CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECTS DURING ACTIVEMINING OPERATIONS. HE’S ALSO COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH OF SPECIALISTS IN THE MINING INDUSTRY THROUGH COACHING AND MENTORSHIP. Critical mineral mines, smelters, refineries, and advanced projects are located in all Canadian provinces and territories, except for Prince Edward Island. Image Source: Critical Minerals Map of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. 2025. Reproduced with the permission of the Department of Natural Resources, 2025. 32 For daily news follow CMM on Facebook and XVisit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 33 FEATURE Manitoba’s SiMbA Project: A Strategic Asset for Canada’s Energy Future By Feisal Somji, CEO, Sio Silica, and Carla Devlin, President, Sio Silica he global race to secure critical minerals is accelerating. Countries like China, the United States, and Australia are rapidly working to control the resources that power artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, solar panels, electric vehicles, and other clean technologies. For Canada, the stakes are high. The shifting political and economic landscape is prompting a national push for greater self-reliance and resilience in global supply chains. With vast, resource-rich land and growing demand from allies, Canada is well-positioned to meet global demand. In southeastern Manitoba, Sio Silica, a Canadian silica quartz mining and processing company, has uncovered one of the world’s most promising deposits of quartz silica. Known as the SiMbA Project, the deposit contains an estimated 15 billion tonnes in situ with over 500 million tonnes of recoverable resources and reaches 99.95% SiO₂ purity through simple water washing and magnetic separation. In lab conditions, this quartz has been successfully processed to exceed 99.999% purity. That level of purity is rare and critical in the most advanced manufacturing applications. This is more than a mining opportunity. It’s a strategic asset that could help position Canada as a leader in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and national security. At a time when global supply chains are under pressure and countries are scrambling to secure long-term access to critical minerals, Canada has a chance to do more than just extract. It can lead. With this deposit, Manitoba emerges as a key player in the global shift toward clean energy and advanced technology. Developing this critical resource can diversify the province’s economy, draw international investment, and help anchor Canada’s leadership in critical mineral processing and high-tech manufacturing. Sio Silica’s vision goes beyond mining. The company is focused on vertical integration, keeping the full value chain – from extraction to processing to high-tech applications – within Canada. This approach strengthens domestic manufacturing, reduces reliance on foreign suppliers, and creates skilled jobs across multiple sectors. Local processing and manufacturing don’t just cut emissions and transport costs. They ensure more economic value stays in Manitoba, supporting global ESG investment priorities and Canada’s clean energy transition. Global demand for high-purity silica is expected to outpace supply by 2032. This material isn’t just essential for semiconductors In lab conditions, this quartz has been successfully processed to exceed 99.999% purity. Photos courtesy of Sio Silica.34 For daily news follow CMM on Facebook and X and solar panels. It’s also used in defense systems, advanced batteries, medical technology and AI. As geopolitical tensions rise and supply chains tighten, having a secure, domestic source of high-purity silica is becoming a strategic priority. Sio Silica’s Manitoba deposit offers a long-term solution. Backed by more than $50 million in private investment to date, over four years of environmental testing and fully committed funding for mine development, the project is ready to move. The company has already signed two off-take agreements with North American partners, a sign of strong demand and Sio’s potential role in strengthening the continent’s critical mineral supply chain. Manitoba has the right conditions to lead this next chapter. The province has clean, reliable energy, a skilled workforce, strong infrastructure, and a regulatory environment that supports responsible development. Global players are paying attention. When fully developed, the SiMbA Project could drive up to $3 billion in investment, with the potential to create more than 8,000 direct and 17,000 indirect jobs. It’s the kind of project that will keep talent in the province, attract new industries, and position Manitoba as a hub for high-tech manufacturing tied to a sustainable future. That vision extends beyond economics. An important part of the project’s long-term success involves building respectful, mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities. Sio Silica has been in active discussions with First Nation communities to explore opportunities for partnership grounded in shared priorities, including environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and meaningful economic reconciliation within Treaty 1 territory. Sio Silica has outlined a framework aimed at advancing community-led prosperity through training, education, employment, and revenue-sharing. The proposed community investment includes equity participation, training and education, community development, and business partnerships including The SiMbA Project deposit contains an estimated 15 billion tonnes in situ with over 500 million tonnes of recoverable resources. Visit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 35 vertical integration growth. Additional components include certification programs for First Nation members, a leadership role in guiding the project’s progress, and the creation of an Environmental Oversight Committee co-chaired by members of First Nation communities and supported by independent representatives. This approach reflects a broader commitment to ensuring resource development creates lasting benefits while respecting community values and priorities. Environmental protection isn’t just a technical requirement – it’s at the core of the SiMbA Project. Sio Silica’s mining and processing approach is designed to be one of the most environmentally responsible in the industry. Unlike traditional open-pit or underground mining, the company uses a low-impact, airlift extraction system, widely employed in water well maintenance, to safely and gently extract silica to the surface. This method avoids tunneling, truck traffic, tailings ponds, and surface disruption. Over four years of independent testing, no adverse effects have been observed on ground stability or the surrounding aquifer. Water conservation is a top priority for Sio Silica. The company does not use industrial water or deplete the aquifer. Instead, extracted water is UV-treated and returned cleaner than it was before. The silica is transported through a closed-loop slurry pipeline, eliminating dust, emissions, and the need for heavy truck traffic. Processing relies solely on water and magnetic separation, with no chemicals involved. The facility is powered by renewable electricity and natural gas, making it one of the most environmentally conscious mining operations of its kind. Canada stands at a pivotal moment. The SiMbA Project has the potential to strengthen the country’s role in the global critical mineral supply chain. With demand for high-purity quartz on the rise and few deposits matching Manitoba’s quality and scale, this project presents a rare opportunity to extract, refine, process, and innovate locally. By building a domestic ecosystem around advanced manufacturing and clean energy technology, Canada can reduce reliance on foreign sources, increase economic resilience, and take meaningful steps toward energy security and reconciliation. Once Sio Silica receives final approval from the Manitoba Government, the project could be operational by 2026 – just as global shortages of high-purity quartz are expected to peak. This isn’t just about meeting demand; it’s about shaping the future. The SiMbA Project is a blueprint for how Canada can lead in clean energy, advanced technology, and Indigenous partnership – on its own terms. With an environmentally responsible extraction process, strong market demand, secured off-take agreements, and committed funding, Sio Silica is well-positioned to become a major supplier of high-purity quartz. The company’s goal is not just mining silica but to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of clean energy, advanced technology, and national security in Canada. M FEISAL SOMJI, CEO OF SIO SILICA, HAS OVER 25 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL MINING EXPERIENCE, SPANNING EXPLORATION, MINE DEVELOPMENT, AND CORPORATE LEADERSHIP. HE BRINGS THIS DEPTH TO GUIDE SIO’S DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-PURITY SILICA, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO CANADA’S LOW-CARBON ECONOMY AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS. CARLA DEVLIN, PRESIDENT, SIO SILICA, IS A MANITOBA-BASED EXECUTIVE WITH 24 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN CONSTRUCTION, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HER APPROACH EMPHASIZES SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, AND INDIGENOUS RECONCILIATION WITHIN CANADA’S CRITICAL MINERALS SECTOR.36 For daily news follow CMM on Facebook and XVisit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 37 FEATURE Permitting Delays Drive Investment Elsewhere: How 3D Visualization is Changing the Game By Tudor Whiteley, Founder and Principal, Ironfin Inc. ermitting delays aren’t just administrative inconveniences; they profoundly impact economic outcomes for mining companies, governments, and local communities. When regulatory processes extend beyond predictable timelines, billions of investment dollars shift toward more efficient jurisdictions. Despite Canada’s vast mineral resources, permitting uncertainty increasingly pushes mining capital to other locations where timelines are shorter and more predictable. The economic stakes are particularly high as global demand for critical minerals accelerates, creating a strategic imperative for jurisdictions seeking to capitalize on the clean energy transition. According to the Fraser Institute’s annual survey, permitting delays consistently rank as a top barrier to investment in Canada. These delays don’t just stall projects, they trigger economic losses across entire communities, including thousands of lost jobs, millions in unrealized wages, disrupted supply chains, and significant reductions in municipal and provincial tax revenues. The impact compounds over time as young workers leave resource-dependent regions, creating demographic challenges that can persist for generations. For resource-dependent regions, particularly in northern and rural areas, delays mean schools remain unfunded, critical infrastructure goes unbuilt, and younger populations migrate elsewhere seeking opportunities. The human toll extends beyond economics, affecting community identity and cultural continuity in regions historically tied to resource development. COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN AT THE HEART OF DELAYS Central to permitting delays is ineffective communication among stakeholders, regulators, communities, Indigenous groups, and companies, often reliant on dense technical documentation. These documents frequently generate more confusion than clarity, prompting repeated rounds of revisions and extensive delays. The technical complexity creates asymmetric understanding, where experts grasp implications that remain opaque to other crucial stakeholders. Regulatory documents are traditionally dense, filled with jargon and technical This fully 3D-rendered model illustrates a former open-pit mine that has been closed, filled with water, and re-integrated into the surrounding landscape. Designed to help stakeholders visualize future outcomes, it demonstrates how post-closure sites can be restored and transformed into naturalized spaces. Visuals like these support more informed, forward-looking permitting discussions. Images courtesy of Ironfin.38 For daily news follow CMM on Facebook and X complexities, making them difficult for non-experts to interpret accurately. Misunderstandings lead to repeated clarification requests, significantly extending approval timelines and generating frustration among stakeholders. Effective communication is essential, yet traditional methods often fail to bridge understanding gaps effectively. The resulting information vacuum frequently gets filled with worst- case assumptions and fear-based opposition rather than evidence-based assessment. 3D VISUALIZATION: BRIDGING THE GAP Advanced 3D visualization has emerged as a powerful solution to these communication challenges. By converting complex data into intuitive, immersive digital models, stakeholders can quickly grasp project specifics. These tools democratize technical information, creating a level playing field where all participants can engage meaningfully regardless of their technical expertise. A notable example from Northern Canada involved a detailed 3D visualization for a proposed tailings management system. The realism was so compelling that regulators initially mistook it for drone footage, leading to a rapid resolution of previously stalled discussions and expedited approval. This breakthrough illustrates how visualization can overcome barriers that technical documents alone cannot address. Ironfin, another industry leader, created a comprehensive visualization demonstrating the post-removal landscape impact of waste rock, significantly reducing stakeholder concerns about visual aesthetics. Such visual clarity helps stakeholders understand project impacts immediately, leading to faster, more informed decision-making. The psychological impact is powerful – replacing the fear of the unknown with concrete understanding often transforms opposition into constructive engagement. REDUCING REGULATORY FEEDBACK LOOPS Traditional permitting processes often get trapped in clarification loops, a cycle of regulatory questions and company responses extending timelines by months or years. Interactive 3D models preemptively answer critical questions, dramatically reducing these loops. Industry data indicates substantial reductions in regulatory information requests when immersive visualization is employed. This efficiency doesn’t compromise thoroughness but rather focuses regulatory attention on substantive rather than clarifying questions. These tools enable regulators and stakeholders to virtually explore project sites, anticipate environmental impacts, and examine detailed mitigation plans without extensive back-and-forth communication. By addressing concerns proactively, visualization significantly streamlines the permitting process. The technology creates shared understanding that serves as a foundation for more productive discussions about genuine environmental concerns and mitigation strategies. VIRTUAL REALITY TAKES ENGAGEMENT FURTHER The introduction of virtual reality (VR) and immersive tools marks the next significant leap forward. VR transforms abstract project plans into tangible experiences, enabling stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, to virtually explore project sites. For one Northern Canadian project, VR consultation allowed Indigenous elders to clearly understand impacts on traditional lands and suggest crucial design modifications, significantly speeding up consensus and approvals. This approach honours traditional knowledge by creating conditions where it can be meaningfully incorporated into project design. VR also provides regulators virtual site visits, reducing costly and time-consuming Visit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 39 physical inspections. During pandemic restrictions, several Canadian mining projects successfully maintained regulatory momentum using VR technologies, proving its resilience and practicality. The technology opens new possibilities for collaborative problem-solving that transcends geographical barriers while creating more inclusive consultation processes. REAL-WORLD ECONOMIC BENEFITS The economic benefits of accelerated permitting via visualization extend well beyond mining companies. In a representative example, a mid-sized gold project used advanced visualization to reduce its permitting timeline by several years. This acceleration led to earlier job creation, faster economic activity in surrounding communities, and quicker engagement of local suppliers and service providers. It also meant government revenues were realized sooner, and community programs, including training and education initiatives, were able to launch earlier than planned. By aligning project milestones with favourable market conditions, the project gained significant value. This illustrates how improved permitting efficiency can meaningfully enhance project outcomes without compromising regulatory standards. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND GLOBAL INVESTMENT Mining is globally competitive, and investment capital flows to jurisdictions offering certainty and efficiency. With geological potential being only part of the investment decision, jurisdictions providing clear, predictable permitting paths have distinct advantages. Companies increasingly maintain sophisticated jurisdiction rankings that incorporate regulatory efficiency alongside traditional geological considerations. The economic implications are clear: extended permitting processes in Canada mean lost investment opportunities, higher capital costs, market disadvantages, and increased project risk. Companies assess not only geological but also regulatory stability, often favouring jurisdictions with efficient, transparent processes. As critical minerals become essential to clean energy transitions, countries that can bring mines online efficiently will capture disproportionate economic benefits. INTEGRATING VISUALIZATION INTO REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS Forward-thinking regulatory bodies are beginning to adopt 3D visualization and VR tools as standard permitting components. This shift enables more efficient, thorough environmental assessments without compromising regulatory rigor. Visualization platforms allow regulators to explore scenarios comprehensively, focusing their assessments on significant issues rather than basic conceptual understanding. The technology enhances environmental protection by ensuring regulators fully comprehend potential impacts and mitigation measures. Governments can integrate these technologies by standardizing visualization requirements for permit applications and creating shared virtual spaces where all stakeholders interact with project models. Training regulatory staff to effectively evaluate projects through these platforms ensures a streamlined, efficient review process. Leading jurisdictions are already developing digital permitting frameworks that incorporate these tools as standard requirements rather than optional supplements. FUTURE TRENDS: DIGITAL TWINS AND INTEGRATED APPROACHES The most innovative mining companies now leverage comprehensive digital twins, integrating real-time monitoring, predictive modeling, interactive visualization, and collaborative engagement tools. These platforms become continuous governance and compliance instruments, providing ongoing environmental and operational performance assurances. The technology creates unprecedented transparency throughout the mine lifecycle from exploration through closure. This integrated approach doesn’t just speed up permitting, it enhances transparency, strengthens community trust, and provides robust governance frameworks that extend throughout a project’s lifecycle. Digital twins ensure ongoing compliance and allow regulators to monitor operational impacts continuously, significantly enhancing oversight capabilities. The same models used during permitting become living references against which actual performance can be measured, creating seamless continuity between promises and practice. THE PATH FORWARD For mining companies, investing in visualization technologies yields rapid, measurable returns on investment. For regulators and policymakers, embedding these technologies within permitting frameworks can significantly reduce timelines while maintaining high standards. For Canada’s mining sector, adopting these advanced visualization tools is essential to maintaining global competitiveness, unlocking economic potential, and ensuring responsible, community-supported resource development. The technology offers a rare win-win, accelerating economic development while improving environmental outcomes through better understanding and more targeted regulatory oversight. M TUDOR WHITELEY IS FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL OF IRONFIN INC. HE LEADS GROUNDBREAKING 3D VISUALIZATION PROJECTS THAT SIMPLIFY COMPLEX MINING DATA TO ACCELERATE PERMITTING, STAKEHOLDER BUY-IN, AND STRATEGIC DECISIONS. Rendered entirely in 3D, this scene shows a localized section of an open-pit mine with a 2.5-ton excavator. Visuals like this help mining companies communicate site activity, equipment use, and environmental management to stakeholders. By illustrating operational details, they make complex processes easier to understand and support clearer, more productive conversations.Next >