Canada needs to stake its claim in mining or risk falling behind – MAC

2015-07-27

For 72 years, Canada’s Energy and Mines Ministers have come together for an annual conference. This week, they met amidst the backdrop of a stubborn downturn in global demand for many minerals and metals.

More than many sectors in the economy, and more than most people would prefer, global mining has cycles where demand and prices drop, followed by a correction and strengthening.

That’s why it’s important to remember that a downturn is no time to get down on mining. Even in a downturn, mining provides close to 400,000 well-paying, highly skilled jobs. It still accounts for almost 20 percent of Canada’s exports. It fuels local community economies in every part of the country, and keeps the lights on in office buildings in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal where professionals help sustain Canada’s lead place as the world’s centre in mine finance.

Mining never goes away. As the saying goes, if it’s not grown, it’s mined. Minerals and metals are the building blocks of virtually everything that we use in our homes, at our work and in getting to and from places.

Read More: http://www.aemq.org/EN/NOUVELLE/29152