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The Vancouver-based think tank ranks Saskatchewan, Quebec and Yukon as the most competitive jurisdictions in Canada for mining, a ranking that Stedman says is based off miners’ perceptions of both a region’s geology and policies.

The results were based on 291 responses to a survey sent to mining companies in late 2019 that led to rankings of 83 jurisdictions around the world. The respondents ranked Nevada, Western Australia and Saskatchewan as the three most attractive destinations for mining in the world.

The largest group of respondents to the survey were presidents of mining companies, who represented 46 per cent of total respondents, followed by vice-presidents, managers, consultants and “other” respondents.

Commenting anonymously in the survey results, one mining company president said that in Ontario, “there is no clear policy/rules on consultation processes with Indigenous communities, which creates confusion and deters investment.”

The general view of Ontario is it’s losing its attractiveness Mining Association of Canada president and CEO Pierre Gratton

Another said that ongoing delays in developing the Ring of Fire mineral deposit is hindering the province’s ability “to unlock its considerable mineral potential.”

The results of the survey are not surprising with respect to Ontario, Mining Association of Canada president and CEO Pierre Gratton said.

“This survey is a useful input but it’s not a science — it’s perception,” Gratton said, but added the perceptions of Quebec and Ontario are consistent with how his members view the two provinces.