REGINA — Saskatchewan Mining Week, June 1 to 7, highlights the Saskatchewan mining industry’s direct or indirect employment of over 30,000 people and procurement of billions of dollars in goods and services annually from local mining supplier businesses.
"Our world-class mining industry is key to the prosperous way of life we enjoy in Saskatchewan, creating good jobs, economic growth and a sustainable, secure future," Energy and Resources Minister Colleen Young said.
"As global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, we are increasing production in core sectors like potash and uranium and seeing growth in emerging commodities like helium, lithium, copper and zinc. This year's Mining Week theme of Talent, Technology and Trade: Opportunities for Saskatchewan's Mining Sector reflects our optimism for the future of mining in our province."
Mining is a major source of private investment and generates government revenue.
"In the next decade, Saskatchewan's growing mining industry will need 15,000 new employees in rewarding careers like trades and engineering,” Saskatchewan Mining Association President Pam Schwann said.
“To increase the mining labour pool, we are promoting career awareness of prevalent and critical careers and showcasing some of the innovative ways that mining companies and their partners are training and attracting the new generation of talented employees that underpin the success of Saskatchewan's mining sector,"
Saskatchewan is home to 27 of the 34 minerals on Canada's critical minerals list. In 2024, potash production reached an all-time high of 15.1 million tonnes of potassium oxide, while uranium production and sales reached record highs of 16,700 tonnes and $2.6 billion, respectively. Projects in these and other critical minerals like helium, lithium, copper and zinc continue to advance along with the Saskatchewan Research Council's Rare Earth Processing facility, which has begun producing rare earth metals at a commercial scale.
The Fraser Institute's annual survey of mining companies consistently ranks Saskatchewan as the top jurisdiction in Canada and the top three in the world for mining investment competitiveness.
