From Picks and Shovels to a High-Tech Industry
Canada's mining industry has come a long way since the discovery of coal on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, nearly 350 years ago. There are now approximately 800 mining operations in Canada, and many communities can trace their roots back to mining and exploration activities. Mining activities are part of the very fabric of our country.
Canada is now one of the largest mining nations in the world, producing more than 60 minerals and metals. The mining industry is a major player in Canada's economy and contributes nearly 5% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. Mining also accounts for 19% of Canada's total exports.
The products of mining provide not only many of the essential consumer goods we use but also much of the infrastructure that we rely on daily—highways, electrical and communications networks, and housing, to name a few.
Sophisticated equipment and leading-edge technology have vastly improved the efficiency and safety of mining operations, resulting in a safety record that meets or beats that of most other industries in the country. Through the use of advanced mining technology and best practices, Canada's mining industry continues to work toward sustainability, seeking to minimize the impact of mining operations on the natural environment and the communities in which they are located.
The mining industry provides Canadians with job opportunities. In 2007, the mining and mining processing industries directly employed 363,000 Canadians. And more skilled workers are needed. Current estimates indicate that the mining industry will need thousands of additional workers each year up to the year 2016!
