FAQ: United Nations Day Against Environmental Exploitation and Global Resource Sovereignty
TL;DR
Blocking foreign acquisitions of national resource companies preserves domestic control over critical minerals, securing economic advantages and strategic supply chains for Canada.
An Ipsos Canada poll shows 64% of Canadians support government blocking foreign sales of resource companies, reflecting global resource nationalism trends and mineral sovereignty concerns.
Protecting mineral sovereignty ensures equitable development, includes Indigenous communities in decision-making, and prevents exploitation while promoting sustainable resource management for future generations.
The Osoyoos Indian Band opposes the Teck-Anglo merger, mirroring South African community grievances about extraction without adequate consultation or benefit-sharing across continents.
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It's a UN international observation calling for nations to defend mineral sovereignty and prevent environmental exploitation, with a focus on protecting natural resources from foreign control.
According to an Ipsos Canada poll, 64% of Canadians believe their federal government should block the sale of national resource companies in oil and gas, forestry, and mining to foreign buyers.
There's a surge in global resource nationalism and public sentiment toward reclaiming sovereignty over mineral wealth, as natural resources are seen as fundamental drivers of national economies and key assets that need protection.
The proposed $53-billion merger between Teck Resources and Anglo American is facing public opposition from the Osoyoos Indian Band of British Columbia, who are concerned about significant impacts on Indigenous Nations.
Indigenous communities express concerns about being excluded from decision-making and benefit-sharing, extraction without adequate consultation or consent, and expansion plans being negotiated without proper inclusion of title-holders.
Both contexts expose similar systems of extraction without adequate restitution and consultation without consent, with South African communities also experiencing exclusion from decision-making and benefit-sharing despite minerals being declared the 'common heritage of all the people.'
South Africa faces challenges including communities being excluded from decision-making and benefit-sharing, foreign-capital dependence eroding sovereignty, lagging downstream beneficiation in metals, and governance mistrust weakening the state's ability to act in the public interest.
The poll provides empirical evidence that ordinary citizens no longer support unchecked consolidation of natural resources and reflects broader global awareness that control of critical minerals is linked to national identity, climate transition, and community justice.
The Ipsos poll details are available at https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/64-canadians-want-foreign-sales-resources-blocked and information about Indigenous opposition to the Teck-Anglo merger can be found at https://m.miningweekly.com/article/indigenous-opposition-clouds-teck-anglo-tie-up-2025-09-19
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
