By Katie Woychyshyn

Canadian mining is an essential leader in the ongoing global COVID-19 economic recovery efforts, according to MAC’s Annual Facts and Figures Report.

Released by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), the report says the impact of COVID-19 and the heighted demand for minerals and metals means that Canada’s mining industry will lead economic recovery efforts both domestically and internationally, as the pandemic continues.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the significant role the mining sector plays in ensuring the materials people and businesses need now more than ever are both available and responsibly sourced,” said Pierre Gratton, MAC’s President and CEO, in a corresponding press release. “With demand for minerals and metals expected to grow as both the Canadian and global economy recover from the COVID-related downturn, Canada’s mining industry is proud to be recognized as a responsible producer, providing global leadership in corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship. This year’s Facts and Figures Report highlights just how integral our sector is to the products needed during this unprecedented time.”

The report highlighted the following:

• In 2019, the mining sector contributed $109 billion, or 5%, of Canada’s total nominal GDP.

• The industry’s direct and indirect employment accounts for 719,000 jobs, accounting for one in every 26 jobs in Canada.

• Proportionally, the mining industry is the largest heavy industrial employer of Indigenous peoples and provided over 16,500 jobs to community members.

• The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange are the world’s number one mining and exploration listing venues, where 37% of global mining equity has been raised over the last five years.

• Canada ranks among the top five countries in the global production of 17 minerals and metals.

• Valued at $106 billion in 2018, mineral exports accounted for 19% of Canada’s total domestic exports.

However, the report also showed some areas in which Canada can improve, especially in global competitiveness. While 2020 saw a modest increase in the value of mining projects planned and under construction from 2020 to 2030 (by $2 billion year-over-year); the total 10-year projected value ($82 billion) remains nearly 50% below the 2014 level of $160 billion. Canada also continued to lose ground to Australia in the competition for the world’s top destination for non-ferrous (pure metal) exploration spending in 2019, accounting for 13% of total global expenditures in 2019. Capital spending in the sector is projected to account for 4.9% of Canada’s total at $11.9 billion, also down year-over-year. The report also stated that Canada’s share of global production for critical minerals and metals has been eroding, with other jurisdictions capturing greater market share for growing demand.

“Critical to bolstering the industry’s domestic and international leadership is a predictable and consistent domestic policy and regulatory environment, with proactive and bold policy to position the country for longer-term success, particularly in the face of the pandemic,” continued Gratton. “There are tremendous opportunities to do that in the areas of critical and battery minerals – arguably the foundation for any resurgence in Canadian advanced manufacturing and essential elements in the move towards a lower-carbon future.”

According to MAC’s press release, public enthusiasm for enhanced critical minerals development in Canada is high, with almost 90% of those surveyed for MAC by Abacus Data liking the idea of Canada being a preferred source for critical minerals and wanting to see government take a number of steps to support this approach.

“We feel energized by federal commitments pertaining to mining and critical minerals in particular, including the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan and the Canada–US Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration, and we look forward to working with the new Biden administration given the enormous opportunity before us for enhanced partnerships between Canada and the US in this space,” concluded Gratton. “Our industry has a significant role to play in Canada’s economic recovery and can provide leadership in the critical minerals space; the time to seize the moment is now.”

MAC’s Annual Facts and Figures Report can be found at www.mining.ca/documents/facts-figures-2020.

The Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members include producers of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, and mined oil sands, and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication.