10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources:Why We're a'Resource Superpower' Living in Poverty: Difference between revisions
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== Canada's Resource Riches == | == Canada's Resource Riches == | ||
# '''World's Largest Potash Reserves''' – ~1.1 billion tonnes (31% of global reserves) | # '''World's Largest Potash Reserves''' – ~1.1 billion tonnes (31% of global reserves)<ref>Natural Resources Canada, 2024</ref> | ||
# '''3rd-Largest Proven Oil Reserves''' – ~170 billion barrels (mostly Alberta oil sands) | # '''3rd-Largest Proven Oil Reserves''' – ~170 billion barrels (mostly Alberta oil sands)<ref>BP Statistical Review 2024</ref> | ||
# '''3rd-Largest Forest Cover''' – 369 million hectares (9% of world total) | # '''3rd-Largest Forest Cover''' – 369 million hectares (9% of world total)<ref>FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025</ref> | ||
# '''3rd-Largest Renewable Freshwater Supply''' – 7–9% of the planet’s renewable freshwater | # '''3rd-Largest Renewable Freshwater Supply''' – 7–9% of the planet’s renewable freshwater<ref>Statistics Canada / Environment Canada</ref> | ||
# '''5th-Largest Unmined Gold Reserves''' – Over 3,200 tonnes still in the ground | # '''5th-Largest Unmined Gold Reserves''' – Over 3,200 tonnes still in the ground<ref>World Gold Council 2025</ref> | ||
# '''6th-Largest Lithium Reserves''' – 930,000 tonnes | # '''6th-Largest Lithium Reserves''' – 930,000 tonnes<ref>USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025</ref> | ||
# '''Longest Coastline on Earth''' – 202,080 km | # '''Longest Coastline on Earth''' – 202,080 km<ref>Statistics Canada</ref> | ||
# '''Top-10 Global Producer''' of nickel, cobalt, uranium, diamonds, and more | # '''Top-10 Global Producer''' of nickel, cobalt, uranium, diamonds, and more<ref>Natural Resources Canada</ref> | ||
# '''Natural Capital Value''' – Estimated $1.7–$3 trillion CAD | # '''Natural Capital Value''' – Estimated $1.7–$3 trillion CAD<ref>David Suzuki Foundation / StatsCan 2024–2025</ref> | ||
# '''Boom-Bust Revenue''' – Provinces heavily dependent on volatile commodity prices | # '''Boom-Bust Revenue''' – Provinces heavily dependent on volatile commodity prices<ref>Fraser Institute 2025</ref> | ||
== The Poverty & Debt Paradox == | == The Poverty & Debt Paradox == | ||
Despite the riches: | Despite the riches: | ||
* ~10.2% poverty rate (over 4 million Canadians) | * ~10.2% poverty rate (over 4 million Canadians)<ref>Statistics Canada 2024</ref> | ||
* Food-bank use up nearly 90% since 2019 | * Food-bank use up nearly 90% since 2019<ref>Food Banks Canada 2025 HungerCount</ref> | ||
* Combined federal + provincial debt > $2.3 trillion (2025–26) | * Combined federal + provincial debt > $2.3 trillion (2025–26)<ref>Parliamentary Budget Officer 2025</ref> | ||
* Debt-interest payments now rival health-care spending | * Debt-interest payments now rival health-care spending<ref>Department of Finance Canada 2025</ref> | ||
== 2025 "Buy Canadian" Policy == | == 2025 "Buy Canadian" Policy == | ||
Budget 2025 introduced: | Budget 2025 introduced: | ||
* $186 million to prioritize Canadian steel, aluminum, wood, and manufactured goods | * $186 million to prioritize Canadian steel, aluminum, wood, and manufactured goods<ref>Budget 2025 – Government of Canada</ref> | ||
* Projected $70 billion economic injection over the next decade | * Projected $70 billion economic injection over the next decade<ref>Department of Finance Canada</ref> | ||
== Why the Disconnect? == | == Why the Disconnect? == | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:Economy of Canada]] | [[Category:Economy of Canada]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:08, 16 November 2025
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
- World's Largest Potash Reserves – ~1.1 billion tonnes (31% of global reserves)[1]
- 3rd-Largest Proven Oil Reserves – ~170 billion barrels (mostly Alberta oil sands)[2]
- 3rd-Largest Forest Cover – 369 million hectares (9% of world total)[3]
- 3rd-Largest Renewable Freshwater Supply – 7–9% of the planet’s renewable freshwater[4]
- 5th-Largest Unmined Gold Reserves – Over 3,200 tonnes still in the ground[5]
- 6th-Largest Lithium Reserves – 930,000 tonnes[6]
- Longest Coastline on Earth – 202,080 km[7]
- Top-10 Global Producer of nickel, cobalt, uranium, diamonds, and more[8]
- Natural Capital Value – Estimated $1.7–$3 trillion CAD[9]
- Boom-Bust Revenue – Provinces heavily dependent on volatile commodity prices[10]
The Poverty & Debt Paradox
Despite the riches:
- ~10.2% poverty rate (over 4 million Canadians)[11]
- Food-bank use up nearly 90% since 2019[12]
- Combined federal + provincial debt > $2.3 trillion (2025–26)[13]
- Debt-interest payments now rival health-care spending[14]
2025 "Buy Canadian" Policy
Budget 2025 introduced:
- $186 million to prioritize Canadian steel, aluminum, wood, and manufactured goods[15]
- Projected $70 billion economic injection over the next decade[16]
Why the Disconnect?
Commonly cited reasons:
- High foreign ownership of resource companies
- Lengthy regulatory delays
- Interprovincial trade barriers
- Classic "resource curse" effect
See also
References
- ↑ Natural Resources Canada, 2024
- ↑ BP Statistical Review 2024
- ↑ FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025
- ↑ Statistics Canada / Environment Canada
- ↑ World Gold Council 2025
- ↑ USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025
- ↑ Statistics Canada
- ↑ Natural Resources Canada
- ↑ David Suzuki Foundation / StatsCan 2024–2025
- ↑ Fraser Institute 2025
- ↑ Statistics Canada 2024
- ↑ Food Banks Canada 2025 HungerCount
- ↑ Parliamentary Budget Officer 2025
- ↑ Department of Finance Canada 2025
- ↑ Budget 2025 – Government of Canada
- ↑ Department of Finance Canada