The territory is held in high esteem as an attractive jurisdiction for mining, Premier Ranj Pillai said Wednesday.

Pillai, who is also the minister of Economic Development, and a delegation of government officials attended the recent Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto. The event draws several thousand people.

The delegation included staff from the Departments of Economic Development and Energy, Mines and Resources, who contributed their expertise on mineral investment, development and deposits in the territory.

“The Yukon delegation promoted the Yukon as a world-class mining jurisdiction by meeting with global investors, mining industry leaders, explorers and technical experts and provided information on the territory’s critical mineral resources, regulatory frameworks and investment opportunities to conference participants,” the government said in a statement.

Pillai met with federal ministers and representatives from industry and other jurisdictions.

They included Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and new Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson.

Federal representatives the premier met included Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland; François-Philippe Champagne, the minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada; Mary Ng, the minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development; and Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada.

Promoting the Yukon’s mineral potential on national and international platforms helps draw investment to the territory, the government said, while educating participants on responsible mining practices and how the development of critical minerals can enable a global green energy transition.

“By embracing investment in communities, respecting First Nations’ governance and committing to environmentally responsible mining, the Yukon offers all of the elements needed for a prosperous future in mining,” the government said.

“The Yukon is widely regarded as an appealing jurisdiction for mining and mineral development due to its abundant natural resources, progressive regulatory environment and collaborative approach to working alongside Yukon First Nations,” Pillai said.

“The annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference is an excellent opportunity for the Yukon to show the mining potential of our territory to the international community.”

PDAC’s International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange has been held in Toronto since 1932. It represents one of the largest mining events in the world.

Mining companies and industry associations with mineral interests in the Yukon attend annually to participate in investor meetings, presentations, and related activities to advance the territory’s mineral sector.

The 2024 Viola R. MacMillan Award, presented at PDAC conference, was awarded to John McConnell and the Victoria Gold team for innovative financing of the Eagle Gold Mine development and production in the Yukon.