The Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) finds in a new independent study that mining is a key driver of economic activity in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, supporting more than 12 300 jobs and contributing more than $3.5-billion in yearly economic output.

MABC tasked Mansfield Consulting to assess the economic impacts of British Columbia’s 18 operating mines and two smelters in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island based on 2024 data.

The study also examines the potential economic impact of future British Columbia mines province-wide.

“With 22% of all mining-related employment being located in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, increasingly mining is to Vancouver what oil and gas is to Calgary,” explains MABC CEO and president Michael Goehring.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support long-term growth and prosperity, driven by the province’s critical minerals, precious metals, and steelmaking coal resources,” he states.

Goehring adds that at a time when the provincial economy is struggling, it is imperative that the British Columbia government build on recent progress by making accelerated mine permitting the norm for all projects and a competitive advantage to attract investment.

The study further confirms that while most mining activity happens in northern parts of the country, the interior and the Kootenays, it provides substantial economic benefits province-wide and offers strong potential for future growth as new mines are developed.

“The economic livelihood of Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island are deeply connected to mining. The region accounts for 20% of the mining sector’s total economic activity, despite not having any active operating mines,” Goehring says.

The region is a hub for nearly 1 000 mining and exploration companies with a market capitalisation of $449-billion and a world-class talent pool of mining equipment and service suppliers, along with engineering, geoscience, legal, accounting, corporate functions, and transportation services.

“Mining has a small footprint with a large economic impact, making it a central pillar of British Columbia’s economy. The benefits are broadly distributed, supporting jobs, incomes, and public revenues across the province in major urban centres and local and First Nations communities,” Goehring explains.

The study identifies 31 proposed mines and mine extension projects — including critical mineral, precious metal, and steelmaking coal mines — in advanced stages of development or considered likely to proceed.

On average, each project involves about three years of construction followed by nearly two decades of operation.