Western Copper and Gold Welcomes Referral of Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor to Major Projects Office

Rhea-AI Summary

Western Copper and Gold (TSX: WRN / NYSE American: WRN) welcomed Prime Minister Carney's November 17, 2025 referral of the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor including the proposed Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect to the Major Projects Office to accelerate delivery.

The company said grid connection could strengthen energy security, deliver clean power across Canada's Northwest corridor, and support responsible critical minerals development, including Western's Casino Project identified as an anchor tenant.

According to the Yukon Development Corporation report cited, the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect could unlock up to C$7.6 billion per year, support more than 36,000 long-term jobs, and enable up to 2,000 MW of new renewable energy.

Positive

• Economic upside: Unlock up to C$7.6 billion per year
• Jobs: Support more than 36,000 long-term jobs
• Renewables: Enable up to 2,000 MW of new renewable energy
• Project positioning: Casino Project identified as an anchor tenant

Negative

• None.

Insights

Infrastructure & Mining Project Analyst

Referral to the Major Projects Office materially raises the project profile and strengthens the Casino Project's case as an anchor customer.

The federal referral of the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor and the proposed Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect to the Major Projects Office on November 17, 2025 creates an explicit government pathway to streamline approvals and coordination. The announcement links grid development directly to critical minerals development and names the Casino Project as an anchor tenant, which may improve the project’s permit and transmission planning visibility. The cited C$7.6 billion annual economic upside, 36,000 long-term jobs, and up to 2,000 MW of new renewable energy frame the scale of potential demand that supports transmission financing and load stability.

Key dependencies and risks remain regulatory and executional: MPO referral focuses resources but does not guarantee approvals, financing, or timelines. Outcomes will depend on MPO decisions, Indigenous leadership arrangements, and whether the Casino Project secures the operational, transmission interconnection, and permitting milestones the MPO process prioritizes. Monitor MPO milestones, any formal timelines or orders, and statements from Indigenous partners and Yukon Development Corporation for concrete next steps; the referral itself is a near-term governance development as of November 17, 2025.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 17, 2025) - Western Copper and Gold Corporation (TSX: WRN) (NYSE American: WRN) ("Western" or the "Company") welcomes the announcement by Prime Minister Carney referring the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor – including the proposed Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect – to the Major Projects Office ("MPO") to accelerate the development and delivery of this nation-building project.

Western welcomes the federal recognition of this corridor and its extraordinary potential to advance critical minerals development and clean power transmission, while upholding Indigenous rights and supporting Indigenous project leadership.

Connecting the Yukon's isolated electrical grid to the Canadian grid through B.C. could strengthen energy security, deliver clean power across Canada's Northwest corridor, and support the responsible development of critical minerals projects in the Yukon, including Western's Casino Project.

According to the Yukon Development Corporation's Shared Grid / Shared Benefits report, the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect could unlock up to C$7.6 billion per year in clean economic growth, support more than 36,000 long-term jobs, and enable up to 2,000 MW of new renewable energy. The report identifies the Casino Project as an anchor tenant and a potential source of stable baseload demand that could support the transmission line's economic viability.

"The federal government is clearly signaling one of its priorities: unlocking critical minerals through nation-building infrastructure," said Sandeep Singh, President & Chief Executive Officer. "We're pleased to see momentum building for the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect and believe that the Casino Project can serve as a catalyst to deliver on this Yukon and Canadian priority."

ABOUT WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD CORPORATION

Western Copper and Gold Corporation is advancing the Casino Project, Canada's premier copper-gold mine in the Yukon Territory and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world.

The Company is committed to working collaboratively with First Nations and local communities to progress the Casino Project, using internationally recognized responsible mining technologies and practices.

For more information, visit www.westerncopperandgold.com.

On behalf of the board,

"Sandeep Singh"

Sandeep Singh
President & CEO
Western Copper and Gold Corporation

For more information, please contact:

Cameron Magee
Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
Western Copper and Gold Corporation
437-219-5576 or cmagee@westerncopperandgold.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "opportunities", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements herein include statements regarding the development and delivery of the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor and the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect; the potential for the corridor and Grid Connect to advance critical minerals development and clean power transmission; the Grid Connect strengthening energy security, delivering clean power, and supporting the responsible development of critical minerals projects; projections regarding economic growth, job creation, and renewable energy capacity; and Casino's potential role as an anchor tenant and source of stable baseload demand.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the risk of unforeseen challenges in advancing the Casino Project, potential impacts on operational continuity, changes in general market conditions that could affect the Company's performance; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's annual information form and Form 40-F for the most recently completed financial year and its other publicly filed disclosure documents.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, such assumptions and factors as set out herein, and in the Company's annual information form and Form 40-F for the most recently completed financial year and its other publicly filed disclosure document.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, other factors may cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's views as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend to and does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/274724

FAQ

What did Western Copper and Gold announce about the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect on November 17, 2025?

Western welcomed referral of the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect to the Major Projects Office to accelerate development and delivery.

How could the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect affect Western Copper and Gold's Casino Project (WRN)?

The report identifies the Casino Project as an anchor tenant, which could support transmission viability and stable baseload demand.

What economic benefits did the Yukon Development Corporation report cite for the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect?

The report cited up to C$7.6 billion per year, more than 36,000 long-term jobs, and up to 2,000 MW of new renewable energy.

What federal action occurred November 17, 2025 regarding the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor?

Prime Minister Carney referred the corridor, including Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect, to the Major Projects Office for accelerated review and delivery.

Does the announcement state the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect is approved and funded?

No; the announcement notes a referral to the Major Projects Office to accelerate development but does not state final approval or financing.