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Canada is a resource rich country with different natural resources found across the provinces and territories. Saskatchewan’s natural resources include agricultural land, forests, minerals, oil, fish and wildlife. Natural resources contribute towards the economies of Saskatchewan and Canada.
Types of Natural Resources
Saskatchewan has the largest area of high-quality farmland in Canada (see Agriculture in Canada). The province is the top wheat-growing area and a major producer of other grains and field crops (see also Cereal Crops).
Métis and some First Nations participate in the agricultural industry, typically in large-scale corporate operations. Many Indigenous people continue to live off the land by hunting, trapping, fishing, growing crops, ranching and tourism.
Boreal forest covers the northern region of Saskatchewan. The province has a large, important wildlife habitat (particularly for aquatic birds). Much of the province’s goods, such as grains, livestock and timber, come directly from renewable resources (see also: Beef Cattle Farming; Forest Harvesting).
Saskatchewan also has major deposits of non-renewable resources such as potash. Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of potash and ten active mines are located in Saskatchewan. In 2022, the province produced approximately 24.6 million tonnes of potash. Saskatchewan also has large deposits uranium, coal and petroleum. Saskatchewan is the second-largest oil-producing province after Alberta.
Did you know?
In November 2018, Saskatchewan sued the federal government for help cleaning up the abandoned Gunnar uranium mine on the north shore of Lake Athabasca. Since the mine closed in 1964, the province, local residents and Indigenous people have fought to have the mine structures demolished and hazardous waste removed.
