The north is one of the largest untapped mining areas in the world. Since the first mine went into operation in the early 1930s, mining has been the economic backbone of the NWT & Nunavut providing significant training, employment and business opportunities and contributing infrastructure to each territory.
We have a strong history of mining in our two northern territories, and each decade since commercial mining began in the 1930s has seen new mines opening:
Currently (2022) there are 8 mines operating in the NWT and Nunavut. In the NWT, we have the Ekati, Diavik, and Gahcho Kue diamond mines and the newly started Nechalacho rare earth element mine, and in Nunavut we have the Meliadine, Meadowbank, and Hope Bay gold mines and the Mary River iron mine.
Collectively, these mines are making mining the largest private sector contributors to each territory’s economy.