Mineral Production

For decades, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has administered the Annual Census of Mines, Quarries and Sand Pits survey program. This program fulfills NRCan’s responsibilities under the Resources and Technical Surveys Act to collect and publish statistics on mineral exploration, development and production in Canada. Information collected through this program is instrumental in illustrating the impact of the mining industry on Canada’s economy.

In September 2018, the program—renamed the Minerals and Metals Production Statistics Program (MMPSP) — moved to a shared program delivery model administered jointly by NRCan and Statistics Canada (StatCan). Since that date, StatCan has assumed the responsibility for the collection, processing and release of production statistics on minerals and metals under the Statistics Act. NRCan continues to publish these statistics, as well as industry statistics, on its website, under the Resources and Technical Surveys Act.

The survey program collects preliminary estimates and actual non-fuel mineral production data. Both involve many questionnaires covering several commodities and refined metals.

The collected data form the basis for periodical publications (annual, monthly, preliminary estimates) that provide timely statistical data on production and stocks of significant mineral commodities.