Newfoundland and Labrador most attractive jurisdiction for mining investment in Atlantic Canada; 14th-most attractive worldwide

HALIFAX, NS, Feb. 26, 2026 /CNW/ - Newfoundland and Labrador remains Atlantic Canada's top-rated jurisdiction for mining investment, according to the Annual Survey of Mining Companies released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

"The Fraser Institute's mining survey is the most comprehensive report on not only mineral potential but also government policies that either encourage or discourage mining investment, and once again Newfoundland and Labrador remains a top-ranked jurisdiction globally," said Elmira Aliakbari, director of the Fraser Institute's Centre for Natural Resource Studies and co-author of the study.

This year's report ranks 68 jurisdictions around the world based on their geologic attractiveness (minerals and metals) and government policies that encourage or discourage exploration and investment, including permit times.

Newfoundland and Labrador fell out of the global top 10 jurisdictions for investment attractiveness this year, dropping to 14^th overall, but it remains the third-highest ranked Canadian jurisdiction worldwide. Ontario is the top-ranked Canadian jurisdiction at 2^nd globally, followed by Saskatchewan in 3^rd.

Other Atlantic provinces have more considerable room for improvement. New Brunswick (37^th) and Nova Scotia (54^th) remain the lowest-ranked provinces this year. Respondents cited regulatory barriers and uncertainty surrounding protected areas (i.e., which areas will be off limits for mining exploration and production) as their primary concerns in both jurisdictions.

In fact, survey respondents highlighted uncertainty around protected areas and regulatory duplications and inconsistencies as one of the top five policy-related barriers to investment in all Atlantic provinces.

"A sound and predictable regulatory regime coupled with competitive fiscal policies help make a jurisdiction attractive in the eyes of mining investors," said Aliakbari. 

"Policymakers should understand that mineral deposits alone are not enough to attract investment."

Overall Investment Attractiveness for Canadian Provinces and Territories (out of 68 worldwide)
Province/Territory	Rank	Province/Territory	Rank
Ontario	2	Alberta	24
Saskatchewan	3	Yukon	27
Newfoundland and Labrador	14	Nunavut	29
British Columbia	20	New Brunswick	37
Quebec	22	Northwest Territories	45
Manitoba	23	Nova Scotia	54

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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org

SOURCE The Fraser Institute

MEDIA CONTACTS: Elmira Aliakbari, Director, Centre for Natural Resource Studies, Fraser Institute; To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact: Drue MacPherson, Fraser Institute, 604-688-0221 ext. 721, [email protected]