B.C. ranks as fourth most attractive Canadian jurisdiction for resources companies

British Columbia has been ranked as the fourth-best jurisdiction in Canada for investment attractiveness from mining companies, according to the Fraser Institute’s latest survey of the resources industry.

276 companies from around the world took part in the annual survey which is conducted by the Calgary-based think tank, which ranks jurisdictions by investment attractiveness, policy perception and mineral potential.

The survey ranks the jurisdictions by how resources operators perceive where they operate.

For investment attractiveness, B.C. came in at 17th globally (behind Australia’s Queensland and ahead of Yukon), and fourth within Canada - ahead of neighbouring Alberta which was 22nd globally and seventh within Canada.

The top jurisdiction globally is Nevada, while the top Canadian jurisdiction is Saskatchewan which ranked as third globally.

In policy perception, B.C. was way down - ranking ninth within Canada and 41st globally (of 77 ranked overall).

According to the report, while B.C. saw an increase in it’s policy perception score, it’s relative ranking declined significantly against it’s competitors.

“This year respondents (in B.C.) expressed increased concern over the uncertainty around protected areas and decreased concern over its legal system,” reads the report.

Besides concerns with uncertainty around disputed land claims and protected areas, the report said that 74 per cent of respondents in B.C. were also concerned about “uncertainty concerning environmental regulations.”

B.C. was ranked similarly to Peru globally, and just behind Yukon nationally.

Neighbouring Alberta scored much higher in policy perception, ranking 18th globally and fourth within Canada, but the report also highlighted “increased concern over uncertainty concerning disputed land claims, uncertainty regarding the administration, interpretation, or enforcement of existing regulations, and its geological database.”

Finally, for mineral potential (which asks operators for their thoughts about a jurisdiction should it implement ‘best practices’ across its mining and energy policies), B.C. was third within Canada and tenth globally, while Alberta was ninth within Canada and 33rd globally.

Overall, the investment attractiveness of Canadian jurisdictions was ranked as: Saskatchewan, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Yukon, Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, with Nova Scotia ranked last in Canada, but 66th globally.

READ MORE: Teck coal profits down in 2020, pins hopes to Chinese recovery