Another Strong Year Of Economic Growth Expected In The Territories

Ottawa, May 27, 2014 – Economic growth in Canada’s territories will be strong in 2014, led by both public and private sector investment in mining and transportation infrastructure, according to the latest edition of the Conference Board of Canada’s Territorial Outlook.

“Uncertainty in the global economy has hurt commodity prices and clouded the outlook for the mining industry in the territories,” said Marie-Christine Bernard, Associate Director, Provincial and Territorial Forecast. “However, with long-term global demand for minerals and metals expected to remain positive, there is still a solid business case for many of the mining projects in the North.”

In 2014, real gross domestic product (GDP) in the three territories combined is expected to grow by three per cent, for the second year in a row.

Highlights

• Mining companies in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are budgeting for lower spending on mineral exploration this year, due to lower commodity prices and difficulty in obtaining financing.
• In 2014, economic growth in the territories is expected to average three per cent for the second year in a row – outpacing the Canadian average.
• Demand for base metals and gold is expected to be strong in the long term.

Nunavut

Following a drop of 40 per cent last year, mining exploration and deposit appraisal in Nunavut is expected to fall another seven per cent in 2014. Economic growth in Nunavut is nonetheless forecast to expand by 4.4 per cent this year. Stronger gold production at the Meadowbank mine, a ramping-up in construction activity at the Mary River iron ore project, and a number of public infrastructure projects will contribute to overall growth.

Yukon

Yukon experienced modest economic growth in 2013. Hit hard by the slowdown in mining exploration activities and in the construction industry, the economy grew by only 1.3 per cent last year. Yukon’s prospects will improve this year, as production is expected to increase at the Minto and Wolverine mines. In addition, a number of mining companies are investing in mine structures, exploration, and equipment in an effort to start or resume operations. Overall, Yukon’s real GDP will rise by 3.7 per cent in 2014.

Northwest Territories

Real GDP in the Northwest Territories (NWT) is expected to advance by 1.7 per cent in 2014, after growing by 1.9 per cent in 2013. NWT’s existing mining operations have long passed their peak production, thus, mining output is expected to contract in 2014. However, high public sector investment, together with the anticipated development of a new diamond mine and three new metal mines this decade, will help the NWT economy grow and generate new jobs between 2016 and 2019.

The Territorial Outlook, published twice yearly, examines the economic and fiscal outlook for each of the territories, including output by industry, labour market conditions, and the demographic make-up. This forecast is funded through the Conference Board’s Centre for the North.

The Centre’s main purpose is to work with Aboriginal leaders, businesses, governments, communities, educational institutions, and other organizations to provide insights into how sustainable prosperity can be achieved in the North. The Centre for the North will help to establish and implement strategies, policies and practices to transform that vision into reality.

For more information contact

Brent Dowdall
Associate Director, Communications
613-526-3090 ext.448
dowdall@conferenceboard.ca

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