For the second year in a row, Saskatchewan rates as the best place to invest in mining activity in Canada and the second best place in the world behind western Australia.

The rankings follow a survey of mining companies around the world by the Fraser Institute.

A total of 109 jurisdictions were rated, but only Saskatchewan and Quebec scored in the top 10.

The institute’s director of natural resource studies, Kenneth Green, says engagement with First Nations creates a better climate for investment.

“My experience from those I talk to in the mining sector is that those who aggressively engage First Nations early in the process tend to do better than those who are less robust about engagement,” he says.

Twenty-two per cent of those surveyed said uncertainty about land claims was a deterrent to investment in Saskatchewan — but that number was much lower than other provinces, especially BC.

Saskatchewan also ranked extremely high when it came to things like taxation, mining policy and richness of resources.