Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government was poised to lobby Ecuadorian officials to urgently speed up approvals for Canadian mining projects during last year’s presidential inauguration, briefing documents obtained by The Maple show.
The push for faster mining permits came during a period in which Ecuador’s right-wing government had launched crackdowns on Indigenous protesters who opposed major Canadian-owned mining projects.
Talking points prepared for Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu ahead of meetings with Ecuadorian officials in May 2025 said Canada is “pleased to see stalled Canadian mining projects gradually moving forward,” but also claimed there is an “urgent need to accelerate permits and agreements to demonstrate commitment to investors.”
The note added: “Canadian companies exemplify how responsible mining can transform regional development while generating national economic benefits.”
Originally published by The Maple.
