We therefore actively contribute to the decision-making process for planning the structuring development of northern Quebec. The James Bay Joint Action Mining Committee is the James Bay Regional Authority's point of contact for mining issues.
For several years now, the James Bay Joint Action Mining Committee has been mandated to conduct studies to demonstrate, in a measurable and quantifiable way, the relevance of secondary processing of critical minerals near the resource in James Bay. These studies were conducted for the James Bay Regional Authority, the Northern Planning Corporation, the Cree Nation Government and the Department of Natural Resources and Forestry.
We clearly demonstrated that the savings in transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions could reach as much as $1 billion in less than 10 years for advanced lithium projects in the James Bay territory. These savings would make it possible to depreciate the cost of building a secondary processing plant near the resource, contrary to the current vision of the Government of Quebec, which prioritizes Bécancour. Our studies have also shown that, without secondary processing, very few critical mineral projects have positive economic potential.
This is a historic time in terms of global demand for critical minerals. Canada has the opportunity to respond to this demand in a significant way. Our development strategies are not currently competitive, and our environmental analysis processes are too cumbersome and too unpredictable. This situation is not conducive to attracting major companies with the expertise and scale needed to develop Canadian deposits and do secondary processing.
In addition, metallurgical processing of critical minerals, such as lithium, requires a significant contribution of natural gas. Therefore, in a context where national security and economic security are important issues, the creation of a national northern transportation corridor that includes a pipeline is essential. It would allow for globally competitive industrial development and facilitate our exports overseas.
Let's not forget that Quebec's resource regions have reached a new level of development with world-class secondary processing plants. This is the case, for example, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue with the Horne Foundry, in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean with its aluminum smelters and on the Côte Nord with its aluminum smelters and iron mills. Outside Quebec, we could add Sudbury with its smelter.
This is an opportunity to develop the full potential of our northern territory and become a global producer of major critical minerals.
Thank you.