TORONTO — Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli calls it the "sleeper story" of the province's massive auto industry transition.
Electric vehicles — at the moment — run on lithium ion batteries, made up of a cathode, anode, separator and a liquid electrolyte to allow lithium ions to move between the cathode and anode. "The sleeper story will be a lithium hydroxide facility," Fedeli predicts. But it has to happen soon. "They're making big investments in locations close to the supply, and now all car companies are following that," he said.
First Nations throughout Treaty 9 territory, which encompasses much of northern Ontario, recently launched a lawsuit against the province and the federal government, alleging they haven't been properly consulted on decisions involving their land.