The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday, Nov. 5, edition that the federal government is testing a new financing approach to reduce China's dominance in the graphite market by offering a price guarantee for a proposed mine in Quebec. The Post's Gabriel Friedman writes that Ottawa will ensure a minimum price of about $1,500 (U.S.) per tonne for thousands of tonnes per year from Nouveau Monde Graphite over seven years. This support may help Nouveau Monde secure the $550-million (Canadian) needed to build its mine in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Que. Ottawa announced a deal during the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers meeting in Toronto, indicating a shift from basic funding to more substantial support for Canadian critical minerals projects. Additionally, an offtake agreement for scandium oxide was established with Australia's Rio Tinto to support the construction of a scandium plant in Quebec. Even with discussions on the importance of critical minerals projects for Canada's economy and security, raising capital for these initiatives is still very challenging. Executives highlight that investors are wary due to China's dominance in commodities, which allows it to significantly influence global supply and pricing.