Shifting Foundations in a Mature Staples Industry: a Political Economic History of Canadian Mineral Policy

Abstract

As noted by Hutton, a new or post-staples political economy might be characterized as one that includes severe pressures on the resource sectors, public concerns about adverse ecological impacts of industrial activity, rapid shifts in the economy specifically toward the tertiary sector with industrial regional growth, and a decline of smaller resource communities. Significant international changes would also be present, including the economic integration of markets, networks and services. In the past quarter century, such characteristics certainly applied to Canada’s mineral industry. The industry reacted in various ways to fluctuating economic cycles, new competition, uncertainty in land access for exploration, and the indifference of a primarily urban public frequently more concerned with the industry’s environmental impacts than economic contributions. A decline in the size and number of mining-dependent communities and lower levels of direct employment in mining operations contributed to the industry’s decreasing influence on public agendas. This raises the question about whether we are now experiencing a diversification of the Canadian economy accompanied by a diminishing mineral sector—a reflection of the emergence of a post-staples economy or simply a declining mature resource staple industry.