REPORT: Canadian mining resumes growth

OTTAWA - The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has published the latest report looking at the value of the mineral industry to Canada, Facts & Figures 2011. Chief among its findings is that the Canadian mining industry has not only recovered from the 2008 economic crisis but is poised for significant and sustained growth.

Here are some highlights of the report:

The mining sector contributed $36 billion to the national gross domestic product in 2010.

• The sector employed 308,000 people including those at mines and mills, in smelting, fabrication and manufacturing.
• Engineering, geotechnical, environmental, financial and other services were supplied by 3,215 companies.
• Mining companies and their employees pay over $5.3 billion in total taxes to all levels of government. Roughly 60% of the total is collected by the provinces.

MAC estimates that Canadian miners have plans to invest $139 billion in new projects across the nation over the next decade. To reach that goal, the industry must have access to an efficient regulatory process, sufficient human resources, and improved infrastructure. The co-operation of federal, provincial and territorial governments will be necessary to cut red tape, train and hire 100,000 qualified people, and build roads and electrical grids to the locations deposits are found.

No matter what part of the mining industry a reader wishes to examine - employment, production, productivity, R&D, environment - this publication touches on it.

Download a free PDF copy of Mining Facts & Figures 2011 at Mining.ca.