Mining Association of Canada
Economic Competitiveness
A rich part of our history and a key part of our future growth, mining is one of Canada’s most important economic sectors. Mining is a major contributor to Canada’s gross domestic product, is a top employer and supports the second largest supplier sector in the world. Its economic contributions go far past the mine site and are felt in communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
At root of the mining industry’s ability to remain a key economic driver for Canada lies in its ability to be competitive on the world stage. While Canada is currently one of the top mining countries, we know that mining investment is highly-mobile and global competition for it is fierce. Being competitive means having access to key markets, an efficient regulatory system, a favourable taxation system, and a robust talent pool to address the looming skills shortage.
Ensuring the mining industry can be as competitive as possible is a central focus for MAC as we advocate for:
- A competitive fiscal environment
- An efficient and effective infrastructure network
- A skilled and ample workforce
- Open and fair international trade and investment environment
- Innovation and R&D, including geosciences
Human Resources
A strong, sustainable mining industry requires a strong, sustainable workforce. The Canadian mining industry has a lot to offer those looking for a rewarding, high-paying career across a huge spectrum of jobs from mining and mineral-processing to marketing to finance to engineering.
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) supports the work of the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) to help Canadian mining employers address the industry’s human resources needs and labour market inefficiencies. MiHR’s latest research estimates that under an industry contraction scenario, employers face a cumulative hiring requirement of over 97,000 workers. Partially driving this is the need to replace a signficiant number of workers over the next decade due to retirement.
In addition to providing labour market intelligence, MiHR also offers programs which focus on diversity, certification, standards and essential skills training, including those developed specifically for Aboriginal peoples.
To help address the mining industry’s human resources needs, MAC:
- Supports the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) and advocates for its key programs which focus on certification and standards and essential skills training: The Canadian Mining Certification Program (CMCP) and Mining Essentials
- Advocates for skills training and employment programming funding
- Promotes the industry as a top employer
- Supports increasing the employment of women, Aboriginal peoples and new Canadians in the mining sector
Infrastructure
As one of the largest users of Canada’s transportation sector, the mining industry’s success depends on its ability to move its products to market efficiently, at competitive prices and on modern infrastructure such as ports, roads and railways.
Mining is the largest rail shipper by both freight revenue and volume. It is also a leading customer of Canadian ports and accounts for a sizeable amount of the value of Canadian exports moved by ship to international markets. The industry also relies on all-weather roads and highways to ship goods by truck, which plays a smaller yet important role in moving mining products.
Power generation is also critical and the industry is currently facing some challenges at the mine-site level. Although advancements have made mines much more energy efficient than in the past, today’s older and deeper mines require more energy to extract the same amount of ore. Mines in northern Canada face a special energy challenge because of the lack of electrical grid capacity.
An efficient and effective infrastructure network is critical to the Canadian mining industry’s competitiveness and Canada’s ability to attract new investment. MAC continues to advocate for more government investment in the infrastructure the industry requires to operate and deliver its products to market.
International Trade
In Canada, the mining sector is a major exporter and involves high flows of inward and outward investment. For the industry to continue making positive economic contributions at home and abroad, it must have access to key markets and continue with a two-way free flow of goods and capital.
Mineral and metal products are strategically important to countries with large or growing infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. Today, China, India and various countries in Latin America and Africa are of growing importance to Canada’s trade strategy.
MAC advocates for effective trade and investment policies, which play an integral role in opening up the industry to new markets. Mechanisms such as free trade agreements and foreign investment promotion and protection agreements are critical to enable the Canadian mining industry to invest abroad and to export its products more freely to an increasing number of destinations.
Source: https://mining.ca/our-focus/economic-competitiveness/
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