The Minerals Industry in Nunavut – An untapped job creator for Nunavut – To: Northern Lights Conference 2020 – Session X: Northern Resource Development By: Ken Armstrong – February 7, 2020
Key Messages • • • •
Nunavut minerals industry is producing significant value Mining’s future looks bright Employment benefits can be bigger (i.e. more jobs for Nunavummiut) A multi-party mining employment strategy can help improve employment outcomes for Nunavummiut
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Nunavut’s mining industry is growing NWT, Nunavut and Yukon Mining Production $2,500
NWT Nunavut Yukon
$2,000
$2,105
$2,045 $1,882
$1,831
$1,790 $1,667
$C Millions
$2,140
$2,123
$2,112
$1,725
$1,638
$1,817
$1,659 $1,507
$1,507
$1,500
$2,111
$1,164 $1,039
$1,000
$874 $779 $653
$500
$0
$349
$682
$385
$614
$629
$636
$644
$700
$427 $321
$317
$272 $35
$35
$4
$32
$35
$13
$0
Natural Resources Canada – March 2019
• •
From ZERO production in 2009, Nunavut mineral production is now over $1 billion and growing It means more jobs, more business spending, more taxes & royalties
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Nunavut mining creates significant benefits (data from 2009-2018)
Mine Employment (over 19,000 total)
Mine Spending ($8.7 billion total)
Nunavut 3,997
Southern 15,706
Southern $4.64 Billion
Nunavut $4.03 Billion
• Mining is good for Nunavut and for southern Canada too • Additional benefits: Significant taxes and royalties to Inuit and public governments 4
And the future of Nunavut mining & benefits is bright Current & Projected Mine Lives (years) 2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
Hope Bay Meadowbank
2045
? ?
Mary River
?
Meliadine Back River
2040
? ?
• Nunavut should have many years of mining opportunities and benefits ahead of it • And by supporting exploration, there is potential for longer mine lives and new mines 5
Huge opportunity to capture more job benefits 4,500 4,000 3,500
Nunavut employment total
3,000
Southern employment total
Tremendous Opportunity
2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
• Currently many Nunavut mining jobs are filled by southerners • There is a tremendous opportunity for Nunavummiut to capture more jobs 6
Some actions to increase Nunavut employment • Raise public awareness of importance of mining to NU • Increase education levels – Encourage, reward Nunavummiut to stay in school, graduate – Ignite students’ interest and passion for mining – Use role models, teachers, guidance counselors
• Train for success – Establish training programs with industry – Provide jobs at the end – Fund the training
• Increase workforce retention / decrease turnover
Partner for success • • • • •
Public governments Inuit government Companies Communities Others?
– Support workers with fly-in/out challenges – Provide social supports in communities
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Need a multi-party Mining Jobs Strategy • Recognizes that no one party can do this alone – Needs participation of industry, communities, public and Inuit governments
• Sets high goals – And establishes action plans to reach them
• • • •
Is well funded by partners Targets specific audiences, eg, youth, general public, etc. Creates pride in Nunavummiut working in Nunavut’s minerals industry The newly created Nunavut Mining Education Working Group provides a good opportunity to start this work
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One tool to help: MiningNorthWorks! Ignite the interest of Nunavummiut in the minerals industry • New communications tools – – – – –
Careers catalogue – over 150 different mining jobs Website Posters, infographics, factsheets, & ‘Mining 101’ booklet Career fair and trade show participation Resource booklet for schools/teachers
• Many positive messages – – – –
Mining/exploration benefits Diverse careers/role models Did you knows? Minerals in our lives
www.miningnorthworks.com
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Why mining is important: people success!
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