The Sisson tungsten and molybdenum mining project in New Brunswick, recently elevated to a national priority, is now at the centre of a growing debate. Experts are questioning whether its designation reflects genuine strategic intent or is merely political theatre, given the project's long history of delays and inaction.
A Project of National Importance, Mired in Uncertainty
This fall, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government selected the Sisson Project as one of 11 major nation-building initiatives to be fast-tracked. The goal is to bolster Canada's economy, infrastructure, and supply chain security for critical minerals. The proposed open-pit mine, located on a 189-square-kilometre site north of Fredericton, holds one of the largest-known undeveloped tungsten resources in the Western world.
Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral due to its vital role in aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing. With no active tungsten mines in Canada and global supply dominated by China, developing domestic sources like Sisson is framed as a matter of strategic independence.
Decades of Development, But No Shovels in the Ground
Despite the lofty political framing, the project's timeline tells a story of persistent stagnation. Northcliff Resources Ltd., the majority owner, acquired Sisson in 2010. It successfully navigated regulatory hurdles, receiving provincial environmental approval in December 2015 and federal approval two years later. At that time, then-federal fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc promised construction would begin in the spring of 2018.
That commitment never materialized. Since then, Northcliff has repeatedly postponed its final construction decision. The Province of New Brunswick has granted extensions in 2020, 2022, and most recently in November 2024, pushing the decision window out another five years.
David Lentz, the University of New Brunswick research chair in economic geology, has monitored the project for decades. He argues that its selection for fast-tracking "doesn't add up" with its history. "The issue is that if it's not going to be developed, then there should be an explanation as to why," Lentz stated. "They've met the major hurdles... but there's still no commitment."
Funding and Future: A Test of Resolve
Recent developments add layers to the puzzle. In May 2024, the United States Department of Defense awarded Northcliff approximately $20 million under the Defense Production Act to advance pre-construction work. Following its designation as a priority project, Northcliff CEO Andrew Ing thanked the province for the latest extension, saying it provides the "runway to complete workstreams" needed for a final decision.
This influx of political support and funding now places the spotlight squarely on Northcliff. The delays raise a fundamental question: is the holdup due to unfavorable market conditions, corporate hesitation, or other unseen challenges? The gap between political ambition and on-the-ground progress exposes the complexities of translating critical mineral strategy into reality.
The fate of the Sisson mine has become a litmus test for Canada's broader critical minerals agenda. Its progression—or lack thereof—will reveal whether the nation's plans are built on a foundation of market realism and corporate will, or if they risk being overshadowed by political optics.
