10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources:Why We're a'Resource Superpower' Living in Poverty

10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources: Why We're a "Resource Superpower" Living in Poverty

   10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources

   Map of major natural resource deposits in Canada

   Major natural resource deposits across Canada

   Why a "Resource Superpower" Still Has Millions in Poverty

   As of 2025, Canada possesses some of the world’s largest reserves of oil, potash, gold, lithium, forests, and freshwater — yet over 4 million Canadians live below the poverty line and national debt exceeds $2.3 trillion.

This article explores the paradox of Canada’s immense natural wealth existing alongside persistent poverty, soaring debt, and economic inequality. The 2025 "Buy Canadian" procurement policy has renewed public debate on this decades-old issue.

Canada's Resource Riches

1. World's Largest Potash Reserves – ~1.1 billion tonnes (31% of global reserves)
2. 3rd-Largest Proven Oil Reserves – ~170 billion barrels (mostly Alberta oil sands)
3. 3rd-Largest Forest Cover – 369 million hectares (9% of world total)
4. 3rd-Largest Renewable Freshwater Supply – 7–9% of the planet’s renewable freshwater
5. 5th-Largest Unmined Gold Reserves – Over 3,200 tonnes still in the ground
6. 6th-Largest Lithium Reserves – 930,000 tonnes
7. Longest Coastline on Earth – 202,080 km
8. Top-10 Global Producer of nickel, cobalt, uranium, diamonds, and more
9. Natural Capital Value – Estimated $1.7–$3 trillion CAD
10. Boom-Bust Revenue – Provinces heavily dependent on volatile commodity prices

The Poverty & Debt Paradox

Despite the riches:

• ~10.2% poverty rate (over 4 million Canadians)
• Food-bank use up nearly 90% since 2019
• Combined federal + provincial debt > $2.3 trillion (2025–26)
• Debt-interest payments now rival health-care spending

2025 "Buy Canadian" Policy

Budget 2025 introduced:

• $186 million to prioritize Canadian steel, aluminum, wood, and manufactured goods
• Projected $70 billion economic injection over the next decade

Why the Disconnect?

Commonly cited reasons:

• High foreign ownership of resource companies
• Lengthy regulatory delays
• Interprovincial trade barriers
• Classic "resource curse" effect

See also

• Natural resources of Canada
• Economy of Canada
• Poverty in Canada
• Canadian oil sands