Facts About Canada

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{{10 surprising facts about Canada's immense natural resource wealth and the paradox of widespread poverty}}
'''10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources: Why We're a "Resource Superpower" Living in Poverty'''


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10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources
    10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources
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[[File:Canada natural resources map.svg|300px|alt=Map of major natural resource deposits in Canada]]<br>
    [[File:Canada natural resources map.svg|320px|alt=Map of major natural resource deposits in Canada]]<br>
<span style="font-size:90%; color:#555;">Major natural resource deposits across Canada</span>
    <small>Major natural resource deposits across Canada</small>
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Why a "Resource Superpower" Still Has Millions in Poverty
    Why a "Resource Superpower" Still Has Millions in Poverty
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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.
    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.
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'''10 Shocking Facts About Canada's Hidden Resources: Why We're a "Resource Superpower" Living in Poverty''' is a popular article exploring the paradox of Canada’s immense natural wealth existing alongside persistent poverty, soaring debt, and economic inequality. The 2025 "Buy Canadian" procurement policy has brought renewed attention to this long-standing issue.
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 ==
== Canada's Resource Riches ==


# '''World's Largest Potash Reserves''' – Canada holds approximately 1.1 billion tonnes of potash (31% of global reserves), making it the undisputed global leader in this critical fertilizer mineral.
# '''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 in Alberta's oil sands, placing Canada behind only Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.
# '''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 of forest (9% of the world’s total), including the planet’s largest intact boreal forest.
# '''3rd-Largest Forest Cover''' – 369 million hectares (9% of world total)<ref>FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025</ref>
# '''3rd-Largest Renewable Freshwater Supply''' – Roughly 7–9% of the world’s renewable freshwater and over 2 million lakes.
# '''3rd-Largest Renewable Freshwater Supply''' – 7–9% of the planet’s renewable freshwater<ref>Statistics Canada / Environment Canada</ref>
# '''5th-Largest Unmined Gold Reserves''' – More than 3,200 tonnes of undeveloped gold deposits.
# '''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 (3.4% of global total), vital for electric vehicle batteries.
# '''6th-Largest Lithium Reserves''' – 930,000 tonnes<ref>USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025</ref>
# '''Top-10 Producer of 17 Major Minerals & Metals''' – Including nickel, cobalt, uranium, diamonds, and rare earth elements.
# '''Longest Coastline on Earth''' – 202,080 km<ref>Statistics Canada</ref>
# '''Longest Coastline on Earth''' – 202,080 km, giving Canada unmatched marine resource potential.
# '''Top-10 Global Producer''' of nickel, cobalt, uranium, diamonds, and more<ref>Natural Resources Canada</ref>
# '''Trillions in Total Resource Value''' – Natural capital estimated at $1.7–$3 trillion CAD (2023–2025 figures).
# '''Natural Capital Value''' – Estimated $1.7–$3 trillion CAD<ref>David Suzuki Foundation / StatsCan 2024–2025</ref>
# '''Resource Revenues Fluctuate Wildly''' – Boom-bust cycles leave provinces dependent on royalties vulnerable during low 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 this wealth:
Despite the riches:
* Canada’s official poverty rate stands at ~10.2% (2023–2025), affecting over 4 million people.
* ~10.2% poverty rate (over 4 million Canadians)<ref>Statistics Canada 2024</ref>
* Food bank usage has increased nearly 90% since 2019.
* Food-bank use up nearly 90% since 2019<ref>Food Banks Canada 2025 HungerCount</ref>
* Combined federal + provincial debt is projected to exceed '''$2.3 trillion''' in 2025–26.
* Combined federal + provincial debt > $2.3 trillion (2025–26)<ref>Parliamentary Budget Officer 2025</ref>
* Annual debt interest payments now rival or exceed spending on health care or child benefits in some years.
* Debt-interest payments now rival health-care spending<ref>Department of Finance Canada 2025</ref>
 
== 2025 "Buy Canadian" Policy ==


== Hope on the Horizon? The 2025 "Buy Canadian" Policy ==
Budget 2025 introduced:
* $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<ref>Department of Finance Canada</ref>


Budget 2025 introduced a strengthened Buy Canadian policy:
== Why the Disconnect? ==
* $186 million allocated to prioritize Canadian steel, aluminum, wood, and manufactured goods in federal procurement.
* Expected to inject up to $70 billion into the domestic economy over the coming decade.
* Aims to keep more resource wealth inside Canada instead of exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.


== Why the Disconnect Exists ==
Commonly cited reasons:
Common explanations include:
* High foreign ownership of resource companies
* Heavy foreign ownership of resource companies
* Lengthy regulatory delays
* Lengthy regulatory and environmental approval processes
* Interprovincial trade barriers
* Interprovincial trade barriers (Canada still lacks full internal free trade)
* Classic "resource curse" effect
* The classic "resource curse" phenomenon seen in many commodity-rich nations


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 59: Line 59:
* [[Poverty in Canada]]
* [[Poverty in Canada]]
* [[Canadian oil sands]]
* [[Canadian oil sands]]
* [[Buy Canadian Act]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<references />


[[Category:Economy of Canada]]
[[Category:Economy of Canada]]
[[Category:Natural resources]]
[[Category:Natural resources]]
[[Category:Poverty]]
[[Category:Poverty in Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian politics]]
[[Category:2025 in Canada]]
[[Category:2025 in 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

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

  1. ↑ Natural Resources Canada, 2024
  2. ↑ BP Statistical Review 2024
  3. ↑ FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025
  4. ↑ Statistics Canada / Environment Canada
  5. ↑ World Gold Council 2025
  6. ↑ USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025
  7. ↑ Statistics Canada
  8. ↑ Natural Resources Canada
  9. ↑ David Suzuki Foundation / StatsCan 2024–2025
  10. ↑ Fraser Institute 2025
  11. ↑ Statistics Canada 2024
  12. ↑ Food Banks Canada 2025 HungerCount
  13. ↑ Parliamentary Budget Officer 2025
  14. ↑ Department of Finance Canada 2025
  15. ↑ Budget 2025 – Government of Canada
  16. ↑ Department of Finance Canada
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