Hub Podcasts Ken Ash on why mining is an essential component in a happy and secure Canada
Jun 27, 2025
Ken Ash, a former OECD Director for Trade and Agriculture, shares insights on Canada’s strategic role in the global race for critical minerals. He highlights how China’s dominance threatens supply chains and emphasizes the need for Canada to enhance its processing capabilities. Ash discusses the importance of transparent policies that foster innovation and collaboration within the mining sector. He also advocates for modernizing mining practices to bolster national security and economic resilience while navigating the complexities of current trade dynamics.
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Shift to Active Industrial Policies
- Developed countries have shifted to active industrial policies after advising developing countries against them for decades.
- Recent crises and geopolitical tensions, especially Russia's invasion of Ukraine, heightened supply chain concerns and the need for domestic industrial capacity.
Principles for Good Industrial Policy
- Design industrial policies to be transparent, proportionate, and non-discriminatory with clear exit strategies.
- Avoid favoring incumbents over startups or domestic firms over foreign ones to minimize trade distortions.
Combine Broad and Targeted Policies
- Use both horizontal policies like corporate tax rates and sector-specific measures to create an enabling environment.
- Remove disincentives like fossil fuel subsidies and tariff uncertainty to encourage business investment.