Our Industry

The north is one of the largest untapped mining areas in the world. Since the first mine went into operation in the 1930s, mining has been the economic backbone of the NWT & Nunavut providing significant training, employment and business opportunities to each territory.

 

Currently (2011) there are 5 mines operating in the NWT and Nunavut. In the NWT, the Ekati, Diavik, and Snap Lake mines produce diamonds and the Cantung mine produces tungsten. Nunavut’s first mine in several years, the Meadowbank gold mine, began producing gold in early 2010. These mines have already become the major private sector contributor to each territory’s economy.