33 Realising Australias uranium potential K ey economic contributions include Over C5 billion to the broader economy Over 60000 jobs at various skill levels including over 4000 in highly qualifed positions integral to Canadas economy Inputs to various industries including the environment electronics and medicine Business opportunities for approximately 150 companies C12 billion in exports A leading industrial employer of Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan In addition Canada exports uranium to Europe Asia and America In stark contrast Australia has missed out on potential streams of economic prosperity primarily due to restrictions placed on uranium mining As the brief summary of the Canadian experience shows recognising responsible expansion of the uranium sector can deliver signifcant payoffs These payoffs span many different sectors involving cutting edge industries including aerospace medicine and a cross section of technology sectors Another beneft of uranium is the economic and environmental cost of energy It has been well documented that nuclear energy represents a lowemission option that is reliable with relatively low running costs A third beneft derived from loosening restrictions would be the potential to further strengthen economic and political ties with China and India Canada and Kazakhstan has shown how this can be done in particular they have shown how responsible expansion can yield economic gain further that this economic gain can deliver better global outcomes in the form of relatively cheap and low emission electricity generation Canadian Nuclear Association F act Book 2015 In contrast to Australia Canada has harnessed its uranium potential delivering benefts across society In addition to harnessing its uranium potential Canada also makes use of nuclear energy Box 4 The potential of the uranium economy the Canadian example