Lessons from Saskatchewan on how to build a top mining jurisdiction

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Saskatchewan has a long-standing reputation for being one of the world’s leading agricultural producers and exporters. Now, the province is attracting international attention for the valuable resources underneath its fertile farmland and forested northern region, expanding its role as a global mining and critical minerals powerhouse.

“I have had the opportunity to meet with a majority of our industry partners recently, and continually in the meetings I have heard nothing but positive feedback about our world-class natural resources and the stable, predictable regulatory environment and attractive incentive programs that Saskatchewan has to offer. The outlook for Saskatchewan’s mining sector is extremely positive,” says Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Chris Beaudry.

In addition to being the world’s leading potash producer and the world’s second-largest producer of uranium, Saskatchewan is also Canada’s largest helium producer and is home to emerging industries in other minerals such as base metals, lithium, gold, graphite and rare earths.

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In 2025, the province is estimated to have attracted over $7-billion in mining investment, once again leading Canada. Saskatchewan also continues to be ranked as the top region in Canada for mining investment attractiveness by the Fraser Institute.

“The world’s top mining companies are coming to our province and discovering the Saskatchewan advantage,” says Mr. Beaudry. “The business-friendly regulatory environment in Saskatchewan creates the conditions companies need to predictably bring mining projects from exploration all the way to production, making our province one of the top jurisdictions in the world to invest in critical minerals.”

A foundation allowing mining and exploration to thrive

Among the foundational elements underpinning Saskatchewan’s mining and exploration ecosystem is “a great geological framework, where 27 of Canada’s 34 critical minerals are found in the province,” says Pam Schwann, president of the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA), an industry-funded organization representing exploration and mining companies active in the province.

“We have ‘good bones’ – but we also have a constructive approach where the Government of Saskatchewan works with industry to develop programs and policies that help attract investments and responsible mining and exploration,” she continues. “An ongoing, open-door approach to responding to issues, barriers and opportunities – along with a commitment from both public servants and politicians to make continuous improvements – is a major factor in our success.”

The province’s Critical Minerals Strategy, launched in 2023, includes targets for the growth and diversification of the mining sector, and is being supported by multiple new and enhanced incentive programs. These include the Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, the Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive, the Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive and the Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive, all of which support companies to develop new critical minerals projects.

Results are impressive: In 2024, Saskatchewan set production records for both potash and uranium – and surpassed $2.6-billion in uranium sales, an all-time high for the province. Since the launch of the Helium Action Plan in 2021, industry has invested over $500-million into Saskatchewan, which now accounts for 3 per cent of global helium market supply.

Saskatchewan’s high-quality, publicly available geological data also continues to attract investment and drive exploration activity, says Ms. Schwann. “Saskatchewan Geological Survey data is shared openly and provides great science that de-risks exploration.”

Leveraging ‘the people asset’

Saskatchewan’s intentional efforts to provide fertile ground for mining and exploration have made the province “without a doubt, the lowest-risk jurisdiction in Canada,” says Dan Myerson, executive chairman, Foran Mining Corporation, who cautions that “many people underestimate jurisdictional risk – and how it can impact progress.”

There are significant advantages to having “a [provincial] government that recognizes the importance of the mineral industry – and that has introduced programs that can help improve project economics,” he notes. “When you develop a multi-billion-dollar project and need help at the beginning, governments offer the lowest-cost capital, which can make a big difference.”

For example, Foran’s McIlvenna Bay project – a greenfield mine in Saskatchewan’s Flin Flon Greenstone Belt projected to commence commercial copper-zinc-gold-silver production in mid-2026 – was conditionally approved for transferable royalty tax credits of up to $70-million under Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive last year.

Due to a supportive environment, including a government willing to actively collaborate through multiple ministries plus steadfast shareholder support, Foran was able to stay on track through challenges like supply chain disruptions due to tariffs, site evacuations as a result of wildfires and material delays due to port strikes.

“Everyone sees the deposit as the asset – but the real assets are the people,” he explains. “From the government to our Indigenous partners and the Saskatchewan Mining Association, we find a wonderful culture in Saskatchewan, where people work hard and get things done.”

Mr. Myerson credits close relationships with Indigenous partners – such as the Cumberland House Cree Nation, the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and the Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies owned by Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation – with ensuring the McIlvenna Bay project will deliver significant multi-generational impact.

“We’ve seen great results in communities, from jobs, education and business ventures to ancillary benefits,” he says. “For example, we have implemented significant digital and power infrastructure that brings connectivity and clean power not only to the Foran mine site but also to surrounding communities.”

Such outcomes result from diligent engagement with Indigenous partners, he emphasizes. “These relationships take time and commitment. It’s a process that includes earning trust through listening and honouring what we say we’ll do.”

From strong support to community impact

Mining and exploration are estimated to contribute about 10 per cent of Saskatchewan’s GDP and generate more than 25,000 direct and indirect jobs, with an annual direct payroll of over $1.7-billion. In 2024, the value of mineral sales from mining operations in the province reached $10.8-billion.

While these numbers may sound impressive for Canadians across the country, what matters most for the Saskatchewan public is tangible impact. “For many decades, mining has been a pillar of the Saskatchewan economy in terms of job creation, community building and generating revenue for the services our citizens depend on such as health care, education and public infrastructure,” says Mr. Beaudry. “We are fortunate to have companies making significant investments in our province that benefit Saskatchewan as a whole and the communities in which they operate.”

Ms. Schwann echoes this sentiment. “For the people in Saskatchewan, seeing is believing. When people see how mining companies operate with integrity in their backyards and create value, this gives us a high level of public support, higher than anywhere else in Canada.”

Public awareness surveys – conducted every three years by the SMA – support this claim, with the most recent showing that 94 per cent of respondents either support or strongly support mining and exploration in the province, she notes. “It helps that the industry has a strong performance record in the top three areas people are interested in: economics, safety and environment.”

The impact of “mining and exploration can be felt in almost every corner of the province – and mining facilities form the backbone of many rural communities,” Ms. Schwann says. “Many regions across Canada and Saskatchewan see depopulation. The rural and northern communities that are doing well tend to be anchored by the resource sector, and particularly mining.

“Not to mention that Saskatoon is a mining and exploration hub, with headquarters for global producers like Cameco, Orano Canada, Nutrien, BHP Canada and K+S Potash Canada and numerous exploration companies,” she adds.

As Saskatchewan’s mining industry continues to grow in the years ahead, the SMA is working to bolster connections between the industry and local suppliers. Last year, mining companies purchased over $3-billion worth of goods and services from Saskatchewan-owned businesses, including over $900-million from Indigenous-owned businesses.

“That’s important because Saskatchewan’s commodity basket is different from anywhere else in Canada,” says Ms. Schwann. “No other Canadian jurisdiction produces potash or uranium – and both require specialized equipment, so our companies rely on Saskatchewan suppliers to help them with solutions.”

SMA hosts an annual Mining Supply Chain Forum, in partnership with the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Industrial & Mining Suppliers Association, as well as an Indigenous Supply Chain Gathering, which reflects a commitment “from companies to work with Indigenous-owned companies where possible,” she adds.

Advertising feature produced by Randall Anthony Communications with the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.