Measuring the Mining Supply and Services Sector

The mining supply and services industry is a multi-billion dollar, widely varied industry in Canada and around the world, yet it is a “hidden” sector that is not directly measured or tracked. Because many of its supply and service categories overlap across other industries, their mining-specific sector sales are difficult to track. Without a sound, statistical understanding of the mining supply and services industry, it is difficult for industry representatives to make effective business decisions or argue for government prioritization and support. This briefing explores this information gap, and then recommends a national survey to assess the size and scope of the mining supply and services industry across Canada.