Important Facts on Canada's Natural Resources
Minerals and Metals
- Canada is one of the leading mining nations in the world, producing more than 60 minerals and metals.
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In 2009, more than 220 principal producing mines (metal, non-metals and coal mines), more than 3000 stone quarries and sand and gravel pits, and about 50 non-ferrous smelters and refineries and steel mills were operating in Canada. - Canada’s estimated mineral production in 2009 was $32.2 billion; nearly 80 percent of the total was accounted for by Ontario (19.7 percent), Quebec (19.3 percent), British Columbia (17.8 percent), Saskatchewan (15.6 percent) and Newfoundland and Labrador (7.1 percent).
National Economic Importance
- In 2009, mining and mineral-processing industries generated 2.7 percent of the national GDP and contributed $31.9 billion to the Canadian economy.
- The 2009 exploration and deposit appraisal expenditures were $1.9 billion, and spending intentions for 2010 indicate an increase to $2.8 billion.
- Capital investment spending in the mining and mineral-processing industries were $9.8 billion in 2009. These industries were responsible for 14.7 percent of capital investment in the natural resources sector and 3.2 percent of all capital investment in Canada. Spending intentions for 2010 are expected to reach $11.9 billion.
- In 2009, total direct employment in the mining and mineral-processing industries – 307 000 people – accounted for 2.1 percent of Canada’s total employment. Approximately 51 000 people were employed in mining, 59 000 people were employed in smelting and refining, and 197 000 people were employed in the mineral-processing and manufacturing industries.
- Wages and salaries remained competitive in mining and mineral-processing industries, with 2009 average weekly earnings at $1,056. Weekly earnings in the Canadian economy averaged $823.
- In 2009, gold was the top metallic mineral produced in Canada, with shipments valued at $3.7 billion, followed by iron ore at $3.2 billion and aluminum at $3.0 billion. The leading non-metallic minerals were potash, which had a value of $3.4 billion; diamonds, at $1.7 billion; and sand and gravel, at $1.5 billion. Coal was the top mineral produced in Canada, with shipments valued at $4.5 billion.
- Canada continues to be the third-largest producer of primary aluminum in the world, producing more than 3.0 million t from imported ores in 2009.
- Mineral and metals products (including coal) accounted for almost 35 percent of coastwise shipping and more than 52 percent of international shipping in 2007. They also accounted for 50 percent of the country’s rail freight traffic in 2009.
| Commodities | World Production Ranking 2009* (by volume) |
Domestic Exports 2009 |
Destination | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total mineral products |
- | $64.1 B | U.S. | $35.1 B | (55%) | |
| E.U. | $12.5 B | (20%) | ||||
| Japan | $3.9 B | (6%) | ||||
| Selected metals | ||||||
| Uranium | Second | (20.5%) | $1.5 B | U.K. | $0.7 B | (46%) |
| U.S. | $0.5 B | (31%) | ||||
| Nickel | Third |
(12.7%) | $3.4 B | Norway | $1.2 B | (35%) |
| China | $0.7 B | (20%) | ||||
| Zinc | Fourth |
(6.6%) | $1.4 B | U.S. | $1.1 B | (78%) |
| Gold | Sixth |
(4.3%) | $9.3 B | U.K. | $5.4 B | (58%) |
| U.S. | $3.3 B | (36%) | ||||
| Copper | Ninth |
(3.3%) | $4.0 B | U.S. | $2.3 B | (58%) |
| China | $0.6 B | (13%) | ||||
| Selected non-metals | ||||||
| Potash | First |
(26.0%) | $3.7 B | U.S. | $2.3 B | (62%) |
| India | $0.4 B | (12%) | ||||
| Diamonds | Sixth |
(8.8%) | $1.8 B | U.K. | $1.2 B | (64%) |
| Belgium | $0.5 B | (30%) | ||||
| Salt | Fifth |
(5.4%) | $0.7 B | U.S. | $0.7 B | (88%) |
| Gypsum | Seventh |
(3.6%) | $0.1 B | U.S. | $0.1 B | (93%) |
E.U. - European Union (27 countries)
U.S. - United States
U.K. - United Kingdom
* United States Geological Survey preliminary data for 2009.
Selected Mining Activities
Figure 5. Selected mining activities
For a complete map of the principal producing mines in Canada, visit http://mmsd.mms.nrcan.gc.ca/stat-stat/map-car/index-eng.aspx.
International Importance
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Canada is one of the world’s leading exporters of minerals and mineral products. These products make a significant contribution to Canada’s international trade, accounting for 19.2 percent of Canada’s domestic exports in 2009. - Canada continues to be the world’s leader in the production (by volume) of potash, and it ranks in the top five countries for the production of primary aluminum, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, platinum group metals, salt, titanium concentrate, uranium and zinc. Canada ranks second in the world in value of diamond production.
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