Newfoundland and Labrador leads Atlantic mining investment rankings

Newfoundland and Labrador holds its position as Atlantic Canada's top-rated jurisdiction for mining investment, the Annual Survey of Mining Companies that the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank, released recently confirmed.

"The Fraser Institute's mining survey is the most comprehensive report on not only mineral potential but also government policies that either encourage or discourage mining investment, and once again Newfoundland and Labrador remains a top-ranked jurisdiction globally," Elmira Aliakbari, director of the Fraser Institute's Centre for Natural Resource Studies and co-author of the study, commented.

This year's report evaluates 68 jurisdictions around the world based on their geologic attractiveness (minerals and metals) and government policies that encourage or discourage exploration and investment, including permit times.

Newfoundland and Labrador slipped out of the global top 10 jurisdictions for investment attractiveness this year, sliding to 14th overall, but it maintains its position as the third-highest ranked Canadian jurisdiction worldwide. Ontario claims the top-ranked Canadian jurisdiction at 2nd globally, with Saskatchewan following in 3rd.

Other Atlantic provinces face more considerable challenges for improvement. New Brunswick (37th) and Nova Scotia (54th) hold the lowest-ranked provincial positions this year. Respondents identified regulatory barriers and uncertainty surrounding protected areas (i.e., which areas will be off limits for mining exploration and production) as their primary concerns in both jurisdictions.

More information is available at www.FraserInstitute.org