Canada Nickel Announces the Referral of the Company's Crawford Project to the Major Projects Office by the Government of Canada

Rhea-AI Summary

Canada Nickel (TSXV: CNC) announced its flagship Crawford Project was referred to the Government of Canada's Major Projects Office following an announcement on November 13, 2025.

The company said referral aims to accelerate permitting and financing to target construction by end of 2026. Crawford is north of Timmins with direct access to power, road and rail, co-developed with First Nations partners, and advances one of the world's largest nickel reserves while producing nickel, cobalt and North America's only domestic chromium source.

An independent economic assessment estimates $70 billion GDP over the life of the mine and roughly 185,000 person-years of employment, including about 1,000 full-time and 3,000 indirect roles.

Positive

• Referral to Major Projects Office on Nov 13, 2025
• $70 billion estimated GDP over life of mine
• Supports roughly 185,000 person-years of employment
• ~1,000 full-time jobs and 3,000 indirect roles
• Direct access to power, road, and rail infrastructure
• Proprietary IPT Carbonation technology enabling large carbon storage

Negative

• None.

Insights

Infrastructure & Permitting Analyst

Referral to the Major Projects Office materially improves federal coordination and could accelerate permitting and financing for Crawford.

The federal referral formalizes high-level coordination between the Government of Canada and the Crawford Project following the announcement on November 13, 2025. This status typically centralizes regulatory engagement and can shorten approval timelines by aligning agencies and resources; the company explicitly links the referral to efforts to unlock permitting and financing and to begin construction by end of next year.

Key dependencies and risks include the pace of federal-provincial alignment, the delivery of required permits and financing, and Indigenous partnership outcomes, all cited as conditions in the statement. The release also highlights an independent economic assessment and a referenced news release dated October 15, 2025 that estimates $70 billion in GDP over the mine life, which frames the project’s national significance but does not guarantee approvals or funding.

Watch for three concrete near-term milestones: Major Projects Office coordination updates, specific permitting decisions, and finance commitments toward construction by end of next year. These items will clarify whether the referral translates into compressed timelines and executable funding plans.

TIMMINS, ON, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Canada Nickel Company Inc. ("Canada Nickel" or the "Company") (TSXV: CNC; OTCQX: CNIKF) is pleased to announce that its flagship Crawford Nickel Project ("Crawford" or the "Crawford Project") has been officially referred to the Major Projects Office by the Government of Canada. The Company was pleased to host this important announcement by the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on November 13^th, 2025 at its Timmins regional headquarters.

"Canada's future depends on delivery today. By investing in critical minerals and nation-building infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for an economy that is stronger, more resilient, and built to lead in a low-carbon world," said Minister Hodgson. "Projects like Crawford show how Canada can power the clean economy at home and for our allies, create thousands of high-paying careers, and do it in a way that respects the environment and Indigenous rights."

"We are encouraged and deeply appreciative of this recognition of the strategic importance of the Crawford Project," said Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel. "We appreciate the Government of Canada's leadership in advancing projects of national significance with the coordination and urgency they deserve."

Mr. Selby continued, "We look forward to working with the government and the Major Projects Office to unlock the financing and permitting necessary to break ground and begin construction on the project by the end of next year. With aligned federal and provincial support, our experienced management team can continue to advance development of Crawford and unlock the Timmins Nickel District as an important secure, domestic supply of critical minerals – nickel, cobalt, and North America's only domestic source of chromium – while advancing strong Indigenous partnerships and delivering on Canada's clean energy and climate ambitions."

Located just north of Timmins, the Crawford Project benefits from direct access to power, road, and rail infrastructure, and is co-developed with the Company's long-standing First Nations partners in the region. In addition to advancing one of the world's largest nickel reserves¹, Canada Nickel has developed innovative carbon capture technology through its proprietary IPT Carbonation process. Once operational, the Crawford Project is expected to also become one of Canada's largest carbon storage facilities – contributing meaningfully to both environmental and economic goals while helping to drive long-term prosperity in Northern Ontario and across the country.

An independent economic assessment estimates $70 billion in GDP for Canada over the life of the mine, supporting roughly 185,000 person-years of employment, including about 1,000 full time jobs and 3,000 indirect and induced roles. Please refer to news release dated October 15, 2025 on the Economic Impact Study. The Economic Impact Study was based on information from the Company's feasibility study published in November 2023.

About Canada Nickel Company

Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-sulphide projects to deliver nickel required to feed the high-growth electric vehicle and stainless-steel markets.

Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project in the emerging Timmins Nickel District.  Canada Nickel Company has applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero Nickel^TM, NetZero Cobalt^TM, NetZero Iron^TM and is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net zero carbon nickel, cobalt, and iron products. Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel in low political risk jurisdictions.

Qualified Person

Stephen J. Balch P.Geo. (ON), VP Exploration of Canada Nickel and a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. 

For further information, please contact:

Mark Selby, CEO
Phone: 647-256-1954
Email: info@canadanickel.com

Media, please contact:

Melanie Paradis
President, Texture Communications
Phone: 416-399-7400
Email: melanie@yourtexture.com

Sydney Oakes
Director of Indigenous Relations and Public Affairs
Phone: 905-929-7151
Email: sydneyoakes@canadanickel.com 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, the potential of the Project, working with the government and the Major Projects Office to unlock the financing and permitting necessary begin construction on the Project by the end of 2026, unlocking the Timmins Nickel District as a domestic supply of critical minerals , the Crawford Project becoming one of Canada's largest carbon storage facilities, the results of economic studies, the ability to sell marketable materials, strategic plans, including future exploration and development plans and results, and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon several assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals, the future demand for metals, the results of drilling, inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property, environmental liabilities (known and unknown), general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, results of exploration programs, risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Canada Nickel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

¹ See "Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study", independently prepared by Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. and available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile.

 

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SOURCE Canada Nickel Company Inc.

FAQ

What did Canada Nickel (CNC) announce on November 14, 2025 about Crawford?

The company announced Crawford was referred to the Major Projects Office following a government announcement on Nov 13, 2025.

How large is the economic impact estimate for the Crawford Project (CNC)?

An independent assessment estimates $70 billion GDP over the life of the mine and roughly 185,000 person-years of employment.

When does Canada Nickel expect to begin construction on Crawford (CNC)?

Management said it aims to break ground by the end of 2026, subject to financing and permitting.

What commodities will the Crawford Project (CNC) produce and why is it strategic?

Crawford is targeted to produce nickel, cobalt and North America's only domestic chromium, supporting critical-minerals supply.

What infrastructure supports Crawford near Timmins for Canada Nickel (CNC)?

The project benefits from direct access to power, road, and rail and longstanding First Nations partnerships.

How could Canada Nickel's IPT Carbonation affect the Crawford Project (CNC)?

The company says its IPT Carbonation process could make Crawford one of Canada's largest carbon storage facilities once operational.