QUEBEC CITY — Canada and the United States should deepen cooperation across critical minerals, energy, manufacturing, defence and Arctic development to build an “economic fortress” for North America, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said.
Speaking Tuesday during an on-stage discussion with Anthony Vaccaro, president of The Northern Miner Group, at THE Mining Investment Event in Quebec City, Que., Hoekstra outlined a vision of closer continental integration built on Canada’s resource wealth, mining expertise and longstanding industrial ties with the U.S.
“Together the U.S. and Canada can be a fortress, an economic fortress,” Hoekstra said. “North America, we can be a defence powerhouse.”
DC’s critical focus
The comments come as the Trump administration expands support for critical minerals through deals worth billions of dollars and funding programs aimed at reducing dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains. Critical minerals have become a priority across Washington, drawing attention from senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Hoekstra said.
His message extended beyond mining.
Responding to questions about critical minerals and North American competitiveness, the ambassador argued that Canada’s role in supplying minerals should be viewed as part of a broader economic and security partnership encompassing energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and defence production.
‘Preferred supplier’
Asked what Washington means when it describes Canada as a preferred supplier, Hoekstra pointed to decades of cooperation between the two countries in sectors ranging from automobiles and steel to energy and defence.
He cited the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad), the joint Canada-U.S. military organization responsible for aerospace warning and control across the continent, as an example of a successful partnership that has endured for decades.
“We know how to work together, we know how to solve problems,” Hoekstra said.
Mining expertise
Canada also brings advantages that are difficult to replicate elsewhere, he added, including a large mineral endowment, extensive mining expertise and experience developing resource projects in partnership with Indigenous communities.
“Canada knows how to mine,” he said. “Canada and the United States have complementary skills and resources that they bring to the problem.”
The discussion broadened when Vaccaro asked how critical minerals fit into Washington’s wider industrial strategy.
Economic empowerment
Hoekstra pointed to Canada’s role as the largest foreign supplier of oil to the U.S., noting that between 3 million and 4 million barrels per day currently move south from Alberta. He suggested there is potential for significantly greater energy cooperation in the future, while highlighting expanding electricity connections between Quebec and the northeastern U.S., growing collaboration in aerospace and defence manufacturing and investments in Arctic shipbuilding.
Hoekstra also referenced Davie Shipbuilding’s expansion into Finland and Texas, describing it as a model of the cross-border industrial cooperation both countries should pursue.
‘We’re not waiting’
While repeatedly emphasizing Canada’s importance, the ambassador suggested Washington is also prepared to pursue partnerships elsewhere if Ottawa chooses not to participate in U.S.-led initiatives.
Hoekstra noted that Canada did not sign onto a critical minerals framework discussed during an international meeting hosted by Rubio in February. The U.S. received significantly more project proposals from allies such as Australia than from Canada, he said.
“We’re waiting to see whether Canada wants to be one of the key partners with the U.S.,” Hoekstra said. “If Canada wants to be a partner, let’s start moving. If not, then we’re not waiting.”
Despite that warning, Hoekstra repeatedly returned to the idea that Canada occupies a unique place in Washington’s plans for critical minerals and industrial development.
“We see Canada as a preferred supplier,” he said. “We would love to partner with Canada on a number of these investments.”
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