Pan-Canadian Geoscience Strategy
The Pan-Canadian Geoscience Strategy (PGS) represents a renewed commitment to federal, provincial and territorial collaboration for delivering accessible geoscience data and knowledge for all Canadians.
It responds to:
- calls from governments and stakeholders to explore options for improving public geoscience coordination and funding
- federal, provincial and territorial Minister commitments under agreements such as the 2022 Intergovernmental Geoscience Accord, the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan and the related Action Plan 2020
Members of the National Geological Surveys Committee (NGSC) have agreed to coordinate their efforts on the following priority areas:
- Advancing framework geoscience
- Advancing mineral and energy potential modelling
- Facilitating access to online data
- Supporting the training of next generation geoscientists
- Enhancing public literacy in geoscience
These priority areas were developed and verified in consultation with a cross-section of stakeholders and Indigenous organizations.
Benefits of the Strategy
The PGS supports a long-term vision to provide geoscience information that underpins the responsible development of Canada’s geological resources (geo-resources) and serves the public good. For example, geoscience can help to:
- inform mineral and energy investment and exploration decisions (benefit: competitive natural resources sector)
- inform sustainable development and land use decisions (benefit: evidence-based conservation)
- understand environmental and public safety risks associated with resource development and geological hazards (benefit: safe infrastructure development)
In today’s rapidly evolving global context, public geoscience is more important than ever. The rising demand for critical minerals, driven by the global energy transition, emerging technologies, and supply chain pressures, underscores the need for high-quality, accessible geoscience to support sustainable resource development and evidence-based decision-making.
By providing a diverse, extensive and sound base of evidence, geoscience also enables decision-makers to quickly respond to society’s evolving expectations for responsible land and resource management.
In developing the PGS, the NGSC recognizes that collaboration and coordination can foster greater efficiency and innovation in geoscience. The NGSC also acknowledges that the benefits of geoscience rely on a synergy of robust geoscience and data, skilled workers, and informed end users.
Where we are and where we’re going
The PGS builds on extensive existing geoscience work and collaborations. This work will continue, with enhanced coordination between geological survey organizations over the coming months and years.
Between the end of May 2024 and the end of June 2025, the NGSC has advanced the priority areas described in the PGS as follows:
1. Advancing framework geoscience
- The NGSC completed a second cycle of regional framework geoscience workshops to begin scoping out projects that address previously identified geoscience gaps. A third cycle is underway focusing on refining project ideas and exploring opportunities for federal-provincial-territorial collaboration. This work enhances Canada’s attractiveness for investment by addressing vital knowledge gaps and supporting more informed decision-making across the mineral value chain. Early discussions have also begun on a national geophysics strategy to address long-standing gaps in data coverage, processing, and analysis.
2. Advancing mineral and energy potential modelling
- A national steering committee was established to host a workshop to assess the current state of mineral potential modelling across Canada. The proceedings will be published, including some recommendations to advance mineral potential modelling in Canada. This work reflects a continually growing recognition of mineral and energy potential in land use and legal planning and aims to address data-sharing challenges and coordination barriers among geological surveys.
3. Facilitating access to online data
- A working group expanded the mineral occurrence data network to include all provinces/territories, with efforts ongoing to improve functionality and operability. Work also commenced on the development of a national bedrock geology data network. These initiatives support the establishment of a comprehensive Canadian mineral data network by allowing seamless data access and interoperability across geological surveys.
4. Supporting the training of next generation geoscientists
- As leadership capacity under this priority was limited this year, formal progress was constrained. The NGSC continues to recognize the importance of training the next generation of geoscientists to ensure Canada is well positioned to tackle current and future economic, social and environmental challenges. Work has advanced on implementing hiring and training practices identified in earlier surveys, and the NGSC remains committed to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in hiring and training activities, while also supporting hands-on learning opportunities across surveys.
5. Enhancing public literacy in geoscience
- NGSC members expanded public engagement and outreach efforts this year, nearly doubling participation in International Geodiversity Day (October 6, 2024) events across Canada. They organized a variety of activities, including museum exhibits and hands-on school programs.
More details about the NGSC’s progress in implementing the PGS this year will be available online later this Fall—stay tuned! In the meantime, you can find previous progress reports on our Publications and Resources page.
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