National Defence Committee on Feb. 9th, 2026

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

It would be defence-related critical minerals. Although we now have a strategic partnership, you feel that we should exclude critical minerals from that in terms of supplying China and—

[Christopher Hernandez-Roy]

I think “strategic” relationship might be a bad use of the word. I mean, it's essentially agricultural products, for EVs, and oil—

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

It doesn't sound strategic.

[Christopher Hernandez-Roy]

Exactly.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

I'm talking about defence.

Perhaps Professor Steyn could elaborate as well.

[Dr. Elizabeth Steyn]

Mr. Kibble, I would suggest that maybe Canada needs to have a definition of not only critical minerals but also strategic minerals.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Thank you. I appreciate that. I'll take that into account.

Would you consider crude oil as a critical mineral both economically and strategically? Further, should we be stockpiling fossil fuel from a defence perspective?

[Christopher Hernandez-Roy]

We should have a certain stockpile of oil. The United States has had a strategic petroleum reserve for decades. In the case of Canada selling more oil to China than it has in the past, this is as a direct result of the need for Canada to diversify its trading relationship, given the aggressive economic coercion of Canada by the current administration in the White House. We're selling more oil to China because there is an international market for oil. It can buy it from Saudi Arabia or it can buy it from us.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

There are certainly benefits to selling oil. I'm not against that. It's more about the strategic partnership and stockpiling and controlling.

Professor Steyn, what do you feel we need to do to best protect our supply?

It's a very broad question, so maybe in my last few seconds here, I'll go around the room. From a defence perspective, what do we need to do to best protect our supply of critical minerals from our adversaries so that we can support such things as a critical stockpile and a five-year stockpile?

Let's just fire around the table, if we could.

[Dr. Elizabeth Steyn]

I'll be very quick: Define what strategic minerals are, stockpile them and safeguard them.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Safeguard them from...?

[Dr. Elizabeth Steyn]

Safeguard them from adversaries.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Thank you.

Would you agree, Mr. Hernandez-Roy?

[Christopher Hernandez-Roy]

I have argued in certain papers that stockpiling is necessary. It's necessary to hedge against prolonged conflict. Much of the thinking there is as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It's also critical, while we build up our own critical minerals industry, to safeguard from China. It's important for us to have a reserve that can cushion us against price shocks from China.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Thank you.

I apologize, Dr. Byers. I think I've run out of time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

No worries, Mr. Kibble. We'll have a few more questions.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

I appreciate your leniency.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Ms. Lapointe, it's over to you.

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

My “waiting in airport lounge” reading these days is a book called Mining is Dead. Long Live Geopolitical Mining. It was recommended to me by a constituent, and I'm grateful to him. I'll just quickly read a passage, because I think it speaks to the study we're doing at this committee currently:

As critical minerals have gained importance, governments worldwide have elevated mining and mineral supplies into key issues of national security and foreign policy. What was once left in the hands of mining companies and commodity traders is now a priority on the agendas of presidents, defense ministries, and diplomats.

It speaks to what we're talking about here today.

Mr. Hernandez-Roy, I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this. In allied co-operation, where is the line between collaboration and over-dependence when it comes to strategic materials?

[Christopher Hernandez-Roy]

I think it's when the majority of your relationship is with only one client. You need to have more than one trading partner, more than one client, in order to hedge against the effects of over-dependence when it becomes used as a tool of coercion.

I don't know where that fine line is, but it does mean that while Canada should still be, say, having the United States as a really important if not primary client in terms of critical minerals, we should be leaning into Europe very heavily, and we've seen the government moving in that direction.

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Professor Steyn, what steps would strengthen Canada's position as a trusted partner without putting its own security at risk?

[Dr. Elizabeth Steyn]

I think we should first look out for ourselves. We should get away from this Canadian notion of selfless service. I love being Canadian, for the record, but we should first look after ourselves.

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

My next question is for all the witnesses who are here today.

When Canada's allies talk about trusted suppliers, what are they really looking for beyond the presence of just minerals in the ground?

I'll start with you, Mr. Hernandez-Roy.

[Christopher Hernandez-Roy]

Is that within allies or broadly talking about critical...?

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

It's broadly.