Remote controlled: The impacts of disruptive technologies in the Canadian mining sector

Increased automation in the mining sector is a growing reality. Major mining companies around the world are investing in new technologies, autonomous equipment, and remote-controlled operations. There is also a growing movement to understand how these technologies are changing the mining sector and, as a result, the ways in which the mining industry interacts with individuals and communities. Little is known, however, about the adoption of emerging technologies in the Canadian mining sector and the impacts on mining communities. To address this gap, this research will examine the social and spatial dimensions of emerging technologies in the Canadian mining sector and their impacts on the future of work and economic development in four case study regions: Newfoundland and Labrador; Northern Ontario; the Kootenays in British Columbia; and the Yukon. This research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Grant Program and the Ontario Government Early Researcher Award Program.