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Saskatchewan has once again secured its position as Canada's most attractive jurisdiction for mining investment, according to the 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies released by the Fraser Institute. The province ranked first nationally and seventh globally out of 82 jurisdictions assessed by 350 industry stakeholders.
The survey evaluates regions based on two key criteria: mineral potential and policy perception. Saskatchewan performed particularly well in the policy category, placing third globally. Factors influencing this ranking included regulatory certainty, environmental policies, legal framework, and the availability of skilled labour.
In a statement following the report's release, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Energy and Resources, Colleen Young, emphasized the province’s commitment to maintaining a stable and responsive investment climate.
“We offer some of the best incentive programs in the country for mineral development,” Young said. “These results from the Fraser Institute speak to Saskatchewan’s strong and steady approach to attracting mining investment.”
The Fraser Institute’s findings also highlighted Saskatchewan’s geological strengths. The province ranked fourth globally for the quality of its geological database, supported by modern mapping technologies, public geoscience data, and core sample libraries maintained by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey.
Pam Schwann, President of the Saskatchewan Mining Association, attributed the province's high ranking to effective public-private collaboration. “Achieving the number one ranking in Canada is due to our ability to work constructively and collaboratively with government to enable policies that attract investment,” Schwann said.
Saskatchewan's mining industry has recently reported significant production milestones. In 2024, potash output reached a record 24.7 million tonnes of potassium chloride. Uranium production and sales also surged, with 16,700 tonnes produced and $2.6 billion in revenues.
With 27 of Canada’s 34 critical minerals present in the province, Saskatchewan is poised for further expansion in the sector. Notable developments include rising helium production and upcoming lithium, copper, and zinc projects expected to begin operations in the coming year.
The Fraser Institute’s annual survey is widely cited by industry professionals as a benchmark for assessing investment risk and opportunity in global mining jurisdictions.