Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said Wednesday the Chinese firms Sinomine (Hong Kong) Rare Metals, Chengze Lithium and Zangge Mining Investment must divest from Vancouver-based Power Metals, Calgary-based Lithium Chile, and Vancouver-based Ultra Lithium, respectively. (The Logic)

Talking point: After tightening security protocols around critical minerals last week, the swift crackdown is a turnabout. The Liberal government received backlash earlier this year in a House of Commons Industry committee hearing for allowing China’s Zijin Mining to buy Toronto-based Neo Lithium, declining to extend the security review on the deal. U.S. officials raised concerns about the takeover, and security experts had called for Canada to send a stronger message to authoritarian regimes like China and Russia on other deals. Power Metals CEO Johnathan More said in a press release the company was surprised by the government’s stance toward Chinese investment, but that it showed the “extreme value” of their critical minerals, and that Sinomine will appeal the decision.