Saskatchewan Mining Week, which runs from May 26-June 1, is underway.
This year鈥檚 theme is Mining: Supporting Local and Global Communities.
Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA), Mining Week features a variety of events involving stakeholder groups, such as Women in Mining/Women in Nuclear, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. The week will finish with the 51st annual Emergency Response Mine Rescue Skills Competition on June 1 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon.
鈥淥ur mining sector sustains innovation, investment and thousands of jobs in Saskatchewan, linking local, rural economies to the global marketplace,鈥� Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said. 鈥淭he combination of world-class mineral resources and the unique qualities of Saskatchewan people and communities have enabled our province to be one of the leading global jurisdictions for mine development.鈥�
鈥淪askatchewan鈥檚 mining sector provides clean energy and food security to the world,鈥� Saskatchewan Mining Association chair Tammy Van Lambalgen said.
More than 30,000 people in Saskatchewan are employed directly or indirectly by the mining industry, which is a key economic sector for the provincial economy. The province is a world leader in potash and uranium production, offering a diverse range of other minerals, while generating $7 billion in sales in 2018.
The annual Saskatchewan Geological Open House, where provincial geologists, researchers from universities and industry representatives present their latest findings to a large technical audience from all across Canada, will be marking its 50th anniversary later this year.
In its annual survey of the international mining industry, the Fraser Institute currently ranks Saskatchewan as the third-best jurisdiction in the world, and number one in Canada, for its mining investment attractiveness. Saskatchewan is also ranked the number one jurisdiction in the world for mining policy integrity.
The Government of Saskatchewan鈥檚 new drilling program, the Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive, has already triggered a net increase of more than 628,000 hectares of new mineral dispositions.聽
More than $3 billion has been spent on exploration in Saskatchewan since 2003, a significant increase from the decade before. Exploration expenditures in the province in 2018 were $228 million and are estimated to increase to $280 million in 2019.
For a complete event schedule and further information about Saskatchewan Mining Week, please visit www.saskmining.ca.
This week's editions of the Mercury and Lifestyles will have more on the mining sector in Saskatchewan.聽
