CONTRIBUTION TO THE CANADIAN ECONOMY

• The mining industry’s $40 billion contribution to Canada’s gross domestic product in 2008 includes $9 billion in mineral extraction and $31 billion in mineral processing and manufacturing. 
• Mining and its related industries are important contributors to federal, provincial and territorial coffers. The industry paid an estimated $11.5 billion in taxes and royalties to federal and provincial/territorial governments in 2008. 
• Over the past 20 years, the value of minerals and metals to Canada’s economy has remained relatively stable at 3.5% to 4.5% of the country’s GDP.
• The Canadian mining industry continues to be an economic backbone of Canada’s regional and rural economies, creating jobs and economic growth in more than 115 communities across Canada.

FINANCE

• The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) is home to the largest group of mining companies in the world.
• The TSX is a global destination for financing international projects. Listing companies are required to meet disclosure standards known as National Instrument 43-101—this standard is increasingly viewed as the global mining disclosure benchmark.
• TSX listed companies had 9,319 mineral projects in progress worldwide in 2009, of which 51% were located inside Canada and 49% outside.

INVESTMENT

• The largest capital investors in the metal mining sector in 2008 were nickel-copper mines at $1.5 billion followed by gold/silver mines at $1.3 billion, copper-zinc mines at $703 million and iron ore mines at $395 million. The coal mining industry invested $574 million in capital spending, while the potash industry invested $919 million.

GLOBAL PRESENCE

• Internationally, Canada is one of the world’s leading mining countries and ranks among the largest producers of minerals and metals.
• Canadian mining companies operate over 350 mines in off-shore locations such as Peru, Chile, Australia, Zambia, Indonesia, Papua-New Guinea, Tanzania, Turkey, Greece and the United States.
• Key exports in 2008 included aluminum, nickel, copper, gold, uranium, coal, potash, zinc, diamonds, iron and steel, and iron ore. Exports of these specific products ranged from $1.9 billion to $17 billion each.

EXPLORATION

• Canada was the leading destination for global exploration spending in 2008, attracting 19% of world spending, followed by Australia at 14% and the United States at 7%.
• Canadian firms are responsible for the largest share of exploration spending in Canada, the United States, Latin America, Central America, Europe and, most recently, Africa. This exploration strength, combined with the ability to turn properties into mining projects, has helped make Canada a world centre for mining finance.
• Approximately 25% of Canadian exploration spending in 2008 focused on base metals, 38% on precious metals, 8% on diamonds and 13% on uranium.

TRANSPORTATION

• The mining industry is the largest customer for Canada’s transportation sector.
• An estimated 70% of Canadian port volumes and 55% of rail freight revenues are generated by the mining industry.

WORKFORCE

• The mining industry accounts for approximately 1 of every 48 Canadian jobs. As defined by Statistics Canada and Natural Resources Canada, the mining and mineral processing industry directly employed 351,000 in 2008.
• Canada’s coal mines and metal mines offered the highest average weekly wages followed by smelting and refining and non-metal mining.
• Average weekly wages and salaries in the mining industry were $1,347 in 2008.
• The industry faces a serious human resource challenge in the coming decades. According to the sector human resources council (MiHR), some 60,000–90,000 new workers will be needed to meet anticipated Canadian production targets through to 2017.
• Some 3140 suppliers provide expertise to the industry, including hundreds of engineering firms, environmental firms, and legal and financial firms.

ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT

• Most Aboriginal communities are located within 200 kilometres of mineral properties creating a source of potential economic opportunity. 
• 4,515 Aboriginal people worked in the mining industry in 2006. This figure has increased 43% since 1996.
• It is estimated that Aboriginal workers accounted for 7.5% of the mining workforce in 2006 versus 3.6% in 1996.

Source: Mining Association of Canada, Facts & Figures 2009.  To download entire report, "2009 Facts and Figures - a report on the state of the Canadian mining industry ", please visit:  http://www.mining.ca/www/Resource_Center/Publications.php