Québec City, October 20, 2020 – Although only one mine remains active in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, the mining industry still generates substantial benefits for the region, in particular because of its proximity to Québec’s three largest mining areas. This is one of the findings from a study published by the Québec Mining Association (QMA) that provides an overview of the impact of mining on Québec’s economy.
The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, which reports almost 2,400 jobs held by residents of the region (ranking 5th in Québec), 385 suppliers (ranking 4th in Québec), and spending assessed at $409 million (ranking 6th in Québec), has seen growth across all indicators.
Overall, the study shows that the mining industry in Québec is responsible for more than 48,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, that almost $10 billion is spent by mining companies throughout Québec, and that a network of more than 3,800 suppliers helps support the development of Québec’s mineral resources. It is also important to mention that the average annual salary in the industry is close to $104,000, well above the average annual salary in Québec of $64,000.
The study also addresses a frequently-asked question: how much do governments receive from mineral resource development? The answer: over $1 billion each year. More specifically, $1.3 billion was paid to the Québec government alone in 2018, without including corporate income tax, while the Government of Canada received a further $500 million.
Although the data relates to activities in 2018, it is the most recent available and provides a representative view of the contribution made by the mining industry to Québec’s socio-economic development.
The full report can be viewed here.
« It is always striking to see the contribution made by the mining industry to Québec’s economy. Although it is easy to think that only the mining regions benefit, in fact the regions of Montréal and Montérégie also receive a major share. It is vital, for Québec as a whole, for the mining industry to remain strong and prosperous. »
« Thanks to the resilience of the workers in Québec’s mining industry and their ability to innovate, mining companies have returned to the levels of activity seen before the COVID-19 pandemic relatively quickly.
However, it will be interesting to see, in the next study of economic benefits covering the results for 2020, whether the pandemic has had an impact on employment and expenditure. Québec is in a strong position to recover from the current situation and to continue to enjoy the benefits generated by the mining industry. »
– Josée Méthot, President and CEO of the Québec Mining Association
About the Québec Mining Association
The Québec Mining Association (QMA) was founded in 1936 and speaks proactively for mining companies involved in exploration, extraction and processing, mining contractors and junior mining companies, along with suppliers, institutions, non-profit organizations and other mining sector partners. It is proud of the 48,006 jobs and total expenditure of $9.9 billion generated by Québec’s mining industry in 2018. The QMA’s mission is to promote, support and proactively develop a responsible, committed and innovative mining industry in Québec.