Manitoba Metis Federation signs royalty agreement with potash mining company

Daymon Guillas, PADCOM president (left) and David Chartrand, MMF president, sign a royalty agreement for potash resources in Manitoba on Feb. 28, 2025. (Scott Andersson/CTV News Winnipeg)

The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) has signed a new royalty agreement with the province’s first potash mine.

The MMF and the Potash and Agri Development Corporation of Manitoba (PADCOM, made the agreement official Friday afternoon. It means the MMF will receive resource royalties from the potash mine operated in Harrowby, roughly 16 kilometres west of Russell.

“All the money we do earn will go back in some form or fashion, helping our families, our citizens, our youth,” said David Chartrand, MMF president, who did not share how much they would be receiving in royalties.

Daymon Guillas, PADCOM president, said potash, which is used primarily for fertilizer, has had economic benefits for Saskatchewan and wants Manitoba and the MMF to benefit from it as well.

“Manitoba potash is the same high grade as Saskatchewan, and we have millions of tons,” he said. “Together, we’re going to develop this, make it a significant player in Manitoba. We’re going to produce lots of money for Manitoba, for the citizens.”

PADCOM’s potash processing plant started in June 2023, and is expected to produce 250,000 tonnes of potash each year.