Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 12
12
* SEPTEMBER 2023
Hey, Manitoba has rocks, too
With a new mining strategy
announced in July, the province
is 'open for business'
By DAVID KENNEDY
T ORONTO BUREAU CHIEF
Quebec and
MANITOBA IS THROWING ITS HAT IN THERING
as the next hub for critical minerals mining and processing
to support the electric vehicle supply chain.
The province's " long overdue " strategy, launched
July 25, is a signal to the industry that it is serious
about leveraging its natural resources, said Jeff
Wharton, minister of economic development, investment
and trade.
" The shingle's out. We're open for business, " he
told Automotive News Canada.
The strategy will help mining
in the province keep pace with
increasing demand while extending
Manitoba's reach into the value-added
processing of minerals and
end-product manufacturing.
" For too many years, we've been
sending our product, our critical
minerals, offshore; having it manufactured;
and then buying it back, "
Wharton said.
Manitoba's mix of resources, an
electricity grid almost entirely powered
by renewables, and a skilled
workforce positions the province
favourably, he said.
Ontario, where companies
have announced
tens of billions in battery-cell and
material investments over the past twoand-half
years.
Manitoba has a mine producing lithium, but a
2019 takeover put it under the control of China-based
Sinomine Resource Group Co., which ships the lithium
offshore for processing.
About 20 other companies are carrying out exploration
or development work on lithium-rich deposits
in other areas of the province.
Wharton:
The
Manitoba
government
wants
Wharton, with Manitoba Premier
Heather Stefanson, launched the
strategy at an event near Winnipeg.
Stefanson described the province -
which boasts 29 of the 31 minerals
the Canadian government recognizes
as essential - as the " Costco of critical minerals. "
NO STRANGER TO MINING
With lithium, nickel and other metals available in
Manitoba that are integral to EVs, Wharton said, the
government aims to see minerals manufactured into
end products before leaving the province.
" We're really excited about the conversations we've
had with companies throughout the world that are
looking to Manitoba in exactly that space with respect
to manufacturing of the batteries here, " he said.
But the province has significant ground to make
up to catch Canadian battery-supply-chain leaders
minerals to
be made into
products
before
leaving the
province.
SUPPLIED
PHOTO
Winnipeg-based Snow Lake Lithium Ltd., for
instance, is developing the Thompson Brothers
hard-rock lithium project in central Manitoba.
Regulatory and financial barriers remain, but the
company aims to start site development next year.
Snow Lake also struck a nonbinding partnership
with battery-cell maker LG Energy Solution in
September 2022 that could bring a lithium processing
plant to the Winnipeg area.
Grid Metals Corp., New Age Metals Inc. and
Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd. are
among the other developers advancing lithium projects
in Manitoba.
PROMPT PERMITS
To help the companies get shovels in the ground,
the province's critical-minerals strategy includes a
commitment to accelerating the permitting process.
Part of a recent $5 million investment will go toward
increasing by 50 per cent the number of staff working
on permitting files, while other steps are upcoming,
the strategy says.
A shortage of capital is another challenge for prospective
companies, Wharton said, but, " The government
will be ... sure to assist in those areas where
we can, where it benefits all Manitobans. "
While the province has several supports on its
books for mining companies, including progressive
tax rates and deferred taxation for new mines, the
critical-minerals strategy offers few new initiatives.
It does commit to working with Ottawa to ensure
that funds from the federal strategy are funneled
toward Manitoba. - ANC
Snow Lake Lithium Ltd. is one of about
20 companies undertaking exploration
or development work on lithium-rich
deposits in Manitoba.
PHOTO: SNOW LAKE LITHIUM
TARA WILLIS
REDEFINING DEI MEANS
YOU CAN BE YOURSELF
ALTHOUGH SHE WORKS
alone in her office, Tara Willis
ultimately has a hand in every
department of Nissan Canada
through her role as senior manager
of diversity, equity and
inclusion (DEI).
" We intentionally intended
the DEI space as an independent
department, reporting directly to
the president, " Willis said. " I act
as an unbiased neutral voice and
create a safe space for everyone. "
" I'm working on redefined
DEI, " she said. " It's
not just about gender
and ethnicity. It could
be a single parent or a
disability that we can
or can't see. It's irrespective
of how someone
is defining themselves,
but that they
can be themselves
and be comfortable. "
From the company's
head office in
Mississauga, Ont.,
she is also senior
manager of philanthropy
for the Nissan
Canada Foundation,
working with its partners
on charitable
donations.
Willis earned a business
administration degree and
always had an eye for the auto
industry. " I love cars. I was the
kid with the car posters. It was
just this passion, that I wanted to
drive these sports cars. "
While in university she did a
co-op program with BMW and
was hired after she graduated.
Her roles included financial services
and product planning. In
2011 she went to Subaru as an
advertising manager. In 2016,
" I was looking for change and
growth, " she said, and began at
Nissan Canada.
She worked in marketing and
then headed Infiniti's marketing.
Willis took the newly created DEI
role in 2022. Along with training
and courses, she drew on her previous
team-leader experiences to
build her qualifications for the
position.
" The mindset was to build
Nissan for everyone, " she said,
adding that it's about accountability
and action. " DEI is a longterm
journey. I love the industry
and want to leave it in a better
place than when I started. "
MARK SCIGLIANO
HE STUDIED TO BE A PROFESSOR
BUT HEEDED A DIFFERENT CALLING
KIA CANADA LAUNCHED A
new brand identity for its 198
franchised dealerships in 2021
and Mark Scigliano has led that
effort as the company's national
manager of dealer development,
based in Mississauga, Ont.
On the dealership network
side, he manages franchise agreements,
acquisitions, " and the signature
image program, and that's
big because we're transferring
She's driven to 'build
a Nissan for everyone'
By JIL McINTOSH
OSHAWA CORRESPONDENT
everyone to the new image, "
he said. In addition, he manages
business development, including
dealer financial analysis and
profitability support.
" [Kia] opened in Canada in
1999, and because of the upward
trajectory of
the brand, our
franchise values
are at an
all-time high, "
he said. There
is a lot of interest
from prospective
dealers,
he said,
and he works with his team to
evaluate them.
Scigliano, 38, considered
becoming a professor and earned
a degree in philosophy, but his
family was in the
auto industry and " I
decided that's where I
wanted to be. "
Tara Willis is
independent of all
Nissan Canada's
departments, but
as DEI manager she
interacts with all
of them.
PHOTO: NISSAN CANADA
In addition to working
at GM Financial
for a year in collections
and commercial
lending, he attended
the Automotive
Business School of
Canada in Barrie,
Ont., 110 kilometres
north of Toronto.
Upon graduation,
he was hired by Kia
in 2008 as part of the
marketing team.
" It was low-level
work for campaign
execution and
it wasn't long after that I transitioned
into an advertising specialist
role. "
After four years as a district
sales manager, he moved into digital
marketing.
" Kia Canada was recognized
as the top global Kia subsidiary
for digital sophistication in three
consecutive years, and it was my
baby, " he said.
Beginning in 2018, Scigliano
headed all national marketing,
and took his current role earlier
this year.
He has been involved at most
levels of the brand relaunch in
Canada - complete with a new
company logo - from marketing
to the dealership makeovers.
" That relationship with your
dealers is paramount to the success
of any brand. I cultivate
those relationships with a holistic
understanding of our brand. "
- ANC
Mark Scigliano first worked
on Kia's brand relaunch
through advertising, and he's
now working on dealership
makeovers.
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY KIA CANADA
http://kumhotire.com
Automotive News Canada - September 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News Canada - September 2023
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - Intro
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 1
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 2
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 3
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 4
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 5
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 6
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 7
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 8
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 9
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 10
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 11
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 12
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 13
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 14
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 15
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 16
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 17
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 18
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 19
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 20
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 21
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 22
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 23
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 24
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 25
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 26
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 27
Automotive News Canada - September 2023 - 28
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