SIO SILICA
MANITOBA’S MOMENT -- LET’S SEIZE IT
I f ever there was a time for Manitoba to lean into the promise of critical minerals and materials value-add, it is now. Global demand for clean-tech inputs is growing. North American supply chain security is a top priority. Sio Silica’s vertically integrated plan offers more than economic development — it offers a story Manitoba hasn’t told itself often enough: that we can mine, refine, manufacture and export from here, and create careers here. Unlike traditional resource projects that ship raw material abroad, Sio’s model ensures that the value stays in Manitoba. From extraction to refining to manufacturing, each stage builds on the next, multiplying the number of jobs and expanding the range of skills demanded — trades, engineering, research, logistics and advanced manufacturing. It’s not just about jobs, though — it’s about the kind of jobs. Careers that pay well, that demand innovation, that keep young Manitobans at home instead of seeking opportunities elsewhere. Careers that build pride in what this province can produce and contribute to the global clean-tech economy. A growing economy helps to make life more affordable and to keep young people in the province. And the growth opportunities extend beyond traditional industries. The next generation of prosperity will be built on data, connectivity and artificial
intelligence . AI is not an abstract trend — it is a global economic driver. Every supercomputer, every cloud cluster, every smart technology depends on fibre optics to move data at the speed of light. At the heart of every fibre strand is one essential ingredient: high-purity quartz silica . “This is Manitoba’s moment to show the world that responsible development is possible — one that respects the environment, includes Indigenous leadership and delivers prosperity for
generations,” says Carla Devlin, president of Sio Silica. “With Sio Silica, we can anchor a made- in-Canada supply chain that strengthens our economy, secures our sovereignty and positions Manitoba at the heart of the national critical minerals story.” Without it, there are no fibres, no networks, no scalable AI. With it, Manitoba can position itself not just as a participant but as an anchor in the supply chain powering the world’s fastest- growing technology. ■
45 WINTER 2025
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