The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that the head of Northern Graphite is hopeful that Ottawa will help finance North America's only graphite mine. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that Prime Minister Mark Carney has prioritized developing domestic resource projects as Canada navigates a trade war with the U.S. Northern Graphite's Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, operating since 1989, is expected to deplete its ore by year-end. To extend its operation into the 2030s, a $10-million investment is needed. Graphite is essential for low-carbon energy and the defence sector. Mr. Carney emphasizes that Canada needs to boost critical mineral production to meet new NATO spending requirements, and closing the Quebec mine could undermine those efforts. Despite extensive talks with the public and private sectors, Northern Graphite has been unable to raise new funding. With debt of $40-million and a cash position of only about $300,000, the company could also eventually be facing a liquidity crisis. Chief executive officer Hugues Jacquemin says while the current situation is alarming, he is hopeful the federal government will come through with a major piece of the financing, a step that would keep the mine in operation.