Facts & Figures 2018 [Mining Association of Canada, MAC]

This report discusses the mining sector's contribution to the Canadian economy in detail, while exploring certain impacts on communities, the environment, and international markets and development.

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) is the national organization of the Canadian mining industry. We represent companies involved in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Our member companies account for most of Canada’s output of metals and minerals.
MAC’s functions include advocacy, stewardship and collaboration. Our goals are to promote the industry’s interests nationally and internationally, to work with governments on policies affecting minerals, to inform the public and to encourage member firms to cooperate to solve common problems. We work closely with provincial and territorial mining associations, other industries, and environmental and community groups in Canada and around the world.

ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
The mining industry has contributed greatly to Canada’s economic strength. The industry directly employs 426,000 workers across the country in mineral extraction, smelting, fabrication and manufacturing, and indirectly employs an additional 208,000. Proportionally, the mining industry is also the largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples and provided over 16,500 jobs to community members in 2017. In 2017, the minerals sector directly and indirectly contributed $97 billion, or 5%, to Canada’s total nominal GDP.