Population could reach 35,500 this year
The Yukon has reached its highest population in recent history,
The Yukon has reached its highest population in recent history, while supporting an enormous mining boom, according to the 2011 Economic Outlook report released Tuesday by the Yukon government.
According to the report, the territory's annual average population grew by 723 to 34,847 in 2010.
This represents a 2.1 per cent increase over the previous year. It's the seventh straight year of population growth recorded in the Yukon.
An eighth year of population growth is predicted as well.
Like many jurisdictions throughout Canada, the Yukon has an aging population. The population for those aged 0-19 was 7,604 in December 2010, down 4.7 per cent from December 2009.
In contrast, there was a growth of 1.6 per cent recorded in the population of mid-to-retirement aged Yukoners. These individuals, aged 45-64, totalled 11,211 in December 2010.
The number of post-retirement age Yukon residents (65 and older) also rose by 4.5 per cent to 3,063 last December.
The population could reach 35,500 in 2011, representing a two per cent increase over 2010 and marking the eighth straight year of population increase.
Meanwhile, the Yukon's mining sector is expected to continue its recent strong performance, says the report.
Interest in the White Gold District, near Dawson City, was the primary driver of record-level staking in 2010. There were 83,161 new quartz claims staked in 2010, more than five times the 15,041 claims staked in all of 2009.
Interest has continued into 2011, with a further 34,002 claims staked in the first quarter. At the end of March 2011, there were almost 192,000 quartz claims in good standing.
The value of mineral production is expected to rise to more than $560 million in 2011, up from an estimated $284 million in 2010.
Both the Wolverine and Bellenko mines registered first production in late 2010.
Bellenko commenced commercial production last Jan. 1, with mill production ramping up from 200 tonnes per day in early January to about 260 tonnes per day in late February.
Alexco Resource Corp. has indicated its 2011 production of silver, lead and zinc is expected to be 2.8 million ounces, 18 million pounds and eight million pounds respectively.
Yukon Zinc's Wolverine mine will ramp up throughout the year and is expected to reach commercial production in the third quarter of 2011.
Current estimates have the total value of production from Wolverine and Bellenko at almost $300 million in 2011.
Following production of 38.9 million pounds of concentrate in 2010 for Capstone's Minto mine, production in 2011 is forecast to be in the range of 39 million to 41 million pounds.
Expectations of continued strength in copper prices should contribute to a hike in the value of copper production in 2011. The value of Minto's production is forecast at more than $20 million in 2011.
Placer gold production in 2011 is expected to once again exceed 50,000 crude ounces. The approximately 140 active placer operations in the Yukon in 2010 produced 51,302 crude ounces, down from 54,478 crude ounces in 2009.
The value of 2010 placer gold production was estimated at almost $52 million, up from approximately $45 million in 2009, due to higher gold prices in 2010. The value of placer gold for 2011 is forecast at $66 million, based on a production forecast of 55,000 crude ounces.
Gold, silver and copper are all expected to remain strong in 2011.
The price of zinc is still well below the levels recorded in 2006 and 2007, but forecasts predict it will hit US $1.14 per pound, which is 16 per cent higher than the
2010 average and more than 51 per cent higher than the average of US $.075 recorded in 2009.
Overall, mineral expenditures for 2011 are expected to exceed $250 million and post a new record.
Mining development expenditures for 2011 are expecting to be approximately $40 million, significantly lower than the $150 million in spending estimated for 2010.
These lower costs reflect the completion of the majority of development work done on the Wolverine and Bellenko mines in 2010.
The value of mineral production is expected to total approximately $560 million, with increases coming from the new production at those mines.
Strong metal and mineral prices should benefit local producers and help maintain interest for further exploration and development of Yukon mineral resources.
Production at Kotaneelee, the Yukon's only producing natural gas field, continued to decline in 2010, with production of 47.6 million cubic metres, down almost 22 per cent from the 60.9 million cubic metres in 2009.
Kotaneelee has generally been on the decline since 1999, a normal trend for a field that is nearing the end of its productive life.
The Yukon Labour Force Survey, as conducted by Statistics Canada, reported that labour force numbers have plateaued, remaining unchanged from 2009.
The survey also reported no change in unemployment in 2010, with the average number of unemployed workers currently sitting at 1,300.
The number of employed workers is expected to climb from 17,400 to 18,700.
The average unemployment rate for Yukon in 2010 was below the national average of eight per cent, settling around 7.2 per cent. The Yukon's unemployment rate is now among the lowest of all the provinces and territories.
The positive economic climate in the Yukon would suggest growth in the Yukon's labour force in 2011.
Employment opportunities associated with resource development activities and ongoing construction projects continue to support employment gains.
The current forecast for 2011 has the labour force rising from 18,700 to 20,000, an increase of approximately seven per cent.
The number of unemployed is expected to remain at 1,300 in 2011, but employment growth is expected to outpace the growth in the labour force and push down the unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent.
Most of the employment opportunities are associated with ongoing construction projects and resource development activities.
The Whitehorse Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2010 rose by 0.8 per cent, higher than the 0.4 per cent recorded in 2009.
Though up, annual inflation in 2010 was still the second-lowest rate reported since the CPI survey began for Whitehorse in 1982.
A number of components of CPI recorded low or negative growth in 2010, which contributed to the low overall increase.
Some components of CPI did see growth in 2010. Strong growth was posted in both the Transportation and Health and Personal Care components, with 3.4 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively.
Soaring gasoline prices were a major contributor to the boost in the transportation prices, as was a 4.7 per cent hike in insurance premiums.
On average, prices in 2010 climbed by less than one per cent, though the average CPI for Whitehorse's fourth quarter in 2010 was 1.8 per cent higher than the fourth quarter of 2009.
The report predicts that the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil will average US $95-100 per barrel in 2011, significantly higher than the $US 79.45 per barrel averaged over 2010.
Whitehorse's CPI is predicted to post an increase of 2.5 per cent in 2011. Higher fuel prices could lead to price climbs in a number of other areas.
The report is available at www.economics.gov.yk.ca.
Comments (8)
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proud of wilderness, ashamed of people on Jun 1, 2011 at 7:52 am
I agree Francias, overly sensitive people who childishly wish their opponents could magically disappear lack intelligence and fortitude necessary to adequately function in free society. North Korea just might be the ideal place for them. There they won't be offended by differing opinions for the simple reason they won't be allowed any opinions of their own.
Also agree with bobby bitman, anyone who is actually familiar with the Klondike is all too aware of widespread devastation that won't likely recover naturally even in another hundred years, if ever.
In the name(s) of their fictitious god(s) indeed. How convenient...
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Wayne on May 30, 2011 at 10:52 am
Everyone has a government job.
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Francias pillman on May 30, 2011 at 10:17 am
Hey Jim. How about you move. I'll assume me and my family have been in the Yukon longer than you have or ever will. Instead of using childish insults, how about you contribute something to the conversation? I have all the right to stand up and defend my home from southerners coming here and imposing their "change" upon real Yukoners. But I won't expect any thoughtful or mature debate from the "Jim" types who greatest intellectual achievement is coming on a website and calling people dumbasses, then quickly running away with their tail between their legs.
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Brice Carruthers on May 30, 2011 at 6:27 am
I'm with Jim Bob on this one. Yukon's gone through worse. During the Rush of 1898, we had way more people, and that was way before they invented environmental wackos and eco geeks. They didn't give a flying F about the environment back then. People believed the Earth was given to them by God and Man had dominion over it. I think the Yukon bounced back just fine from the Klondike Gold Rush, so what's the big deal here.
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Jim Bob on May 29, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Steve, Francias and Bobby. If you all dont like progress then leave and move to Faro. Nice and quiet there. You people sound like the 3 stooges with your dumass comments
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bobby bitman on May 27, 2011 at 1:39 pm
I worry very much about the creeks that must be ripped to shreds and left as barren gravel each year so these placer miners can snorfle out their 55,000 ounces of gold each year. Do they care? Does anyone care? Just how much money is the Yukon getting to sell off our precious riparian zones, anyway? How many dollars an ounce, (and that's per reported ounce), do we get as a royalty? Is it worth it? Is any amount worth it?
I am very uncomfortable with this Gold Rush. The greed and destruction is happening so fast, and we are not even aware of what's going on back in those fly-in mines. We need photographers back there, reporters and inspectors, big time. We need some perspective other than simply dollar figures about the economy and the dollar amount our resources which are being sucked out out of the territory, forever.
How about reporting on the miles and miles of ruined streams? And the amount of all that 55,000 ounces x $1500 that actually ends up in Yukon coffers? Those are numbers that would give perspective and meaning to this rampage that is going on around us in the name of Gold.
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Steve E on May 25, 2011 at 10:50 am
Hey Mr. Harper, it's getting a little crowded up here. Isn't it about time to defund all the pointless bureaucracy based government programs in the name of austerity and good management now that you finally have a majority. Kindly review all Sheila Frazer's reports on the waste and incompetence here in the Yukon. Don't be shy because any trimming of the fat will help in our housing crisis to make room for miners.
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Francias Pillman on May 25, 2011 at 10:25 am
Other than the mines. Where are all these jobs? There is nothing new here. Go drive around town any weekday and the amount of people just driving around makes no sense. I guess the welfare office is pretty busy these days with all these new comers. This town is bursting at the seams, but keep packing them in. Soon our quality of life will be reduced to the sheer amount of people who keep moving here. Wait, it already has. Take it from someone who has lived here their whole life. Rather than all the hippies coming here to make a quick buck.