ABSTRACT
The lands of remote parts of Canada and Australia lack the resources necessary for agriculture. But they are rich in other resources, particularly the non-renewable resources sought by the mining industry. Mineral wealth has attracted development to these regions on scales far greater than those affecting any other type of enterprise. In conventional economic terms this has been advantageous. However there have also been disadvantages. Major issues include the impact that mining makes on the fragile Arctic and desert environments, an impact which became globally recognised because of events such as the Alaskan oil spill. Another issue, less commonly publicised, is the impact of mining on the aboriginal residents of these regions. Important topics include their involvement in this form of development, its impact upon them in both positive and negative ways and particularly the extent to which they have been able to use it to further their own development aspirations.
