Global Resource Nationalism Surges as Canadians Demand Protection of Mineral Sovereignty

A new Ipsos Canada poll has revealed that 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. The results signal a surge in global resource nationalism and growing public sentiment toward reclaiming sovereignty over mineral wealth. Darrel Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Global Public Affairs, stated that Canadians understand natural resources are the fundamental driver of the economy and that globalization challenges require protecting key assets. The poll reflects broader global awareness that control of critical minerals is linked to national identity, climate transition and community justice.

This sentiment is echoed in Indigenous opposition to major mining mergers, as demonstrated by the Osoyoos Indian Band of British Columbia publicly opposing the proposed $53-billion merger between Teck Resources and Anglo American. Chief Clarence Louie emphasized that deals of this scale cannot be completed without including the title-holders on whose lands these mines and smelters are situated. The Band described Teck's century-old smelter at Trail as a symbol of extraction without benefit, noting that new expansion plans worth CAD$750 million were being negotiated without consultation.

These grievances mirror those of many South African mining communities affected by Anglo American's operations. South Africa's Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act declares minerals to be the common heritage of all the people, yet communities remain excluded from decision-making and benefit-sharing. Foreign-capital dependence continues to erode sovereignty while downstream beneficiation lags behind potential in platinum-group metals, rare earths, and titanium. Governance mistrust weakens the state's ability to act in the public interest.

The Osoyoos Indian Band's statement aligns with lived realities of mining-affected communities in South Africa, exposing an enduring system of extraction without adequate restitution and consultation without consent. While Mining Weekly Canada reports Indigenous opposition to proposed foreign mergers, industry media in South Africa seemingly lack comparable coverage of community perspectives. When multinational mining companies underwrite advertising and sponsorships in the same outlets meant to hold them accountable, press freedom becomes transactional.

The Ipsos poll provides empirical evidence that ordinary citizens no longer support unchecked consolidation of natural resources. The proposed Anglo-Teck merger represents exactly the type of geo-economic manoeuvre that citizens are warning against one that shifts control of critical-mineral supply chains from the public to global financial centers. While Canadians demand government action to protect domestic resource companies, proposed mergers such as Anglo-Teck appear to advance in the Global South with minimal public scrutiny.

With South Africa's Public Investment Corporation among Anglo's largest shareholders, there is a clear warning that proposed deals risk reinforcing economic dependency and the potential for state capture. This latest polling data and Indigenous resistance reflect a broader public trend where citizens across continents are asserting the right to equitable and inclusive development and sustainable management of natural endowments. Evidence-based statistics indicate citizens desire governments to act as responsible custodians of mineral sovereignty, while global corporate mergers challenge that principle and deepen divides between wealth extractors and affected communities.