Public Support for the Continuation of Mining in Saskatchewan

SITUATION SUMMARY November 2019

Prepared for: Submitted by: CORPORATION FAST CONSULTING 2121 11th Street W. 117 - 3rd Avenue S. Saskatoon, SK S7M 1J3 Saskatoon, SK S7K 1L6

In addition to the province-wide sample, 289 surveys were Public Support for the Continuation of conducted in communities and reserves in Northern Saskatchewan in Saskatchewan (Northern Administration District). This enables us to report on the perceptions of Northern residents and to draw more reliable conclusions for this cohort. The Northern oversample is not factored In November 2019, Fast Consulting conducted a into the provincial estimates beyond its proportionate weight. public opinion survey for Cameco Corporation and SUPPORT REMAINS STRONG Canada to measure public support for the 2019 survey results confirm strong support for the continuation of uranium mining industry in Saskatchewan. Our firm uranium mining in the province: has been conducting annual public opinion surveys  85% of respondents province-wide support uranium mining in for Cameco since 1990 and for Cameco and Orano Saskatchewan, including 41% who strongly support the industry. jointly since 1998. This is up from 80% a year ago.  85% of Northern respondents support the industry (48% are The 2019 survey was conducted by telephone and online with a strongly supportive), up from 82% in 2018. representative sample of 1,022 Saskatchewan residents. The province was divided into geographic sampling regions to facilitate Although annual surveys show fluctuations in support, the rise and proportionate representation. fall is within a relatively limited range. The current level of support is consistent with the long-term trend.

Support for the Uranium Mining Industry in Saskatchewan, 2000-2019

Overall North 86% 85% 86% 79% 82% 84% 84% 82% 82% 79% 81% 82% 85% 81% 79% 81% 81% 78% 76% 77% 77% 80% 72% 73% 69% 69% 68%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Fast Consulting | Page 2 Cameco Corporation | Public Support for the Continuation of Uranium Mining in Saskatchewan | November 2019 | SITUATION SUMMARY

Important Issues Jobs, Environment Are Most Important Issues Q. What issues are important to you when you think about the uranium mining industry in Saskatchewan? 50% Jobs 37% • The issues respondents identify as important to them when thinking about Saskatchewan’s uranium mining industry are 40% Environmental impact generally consistent from year to year. 31%

• In 2019, as in previous years, jobs tops the list at 50% province- 36% Safety issues wide and 37% in the North. 15% • Environmental impact (40% overall, 31% North) and safety 27% issues (36% overall, 15% North) round out the top three Investment in province 2% mentions. 25%  Approximately a quarter overall cite investment in province Waste management / reclamation (27%), waste management/reclamation (25%) and health 8% concerns (24%). Approximately a fifth cite community 24% Health concerns investment/youth initiatives (21%), economic diversification 8% (21%) and tax revenue (20%). Community investment / 21% youth initiatives 6%

21% Economic diversification 5%

20% Tax revenue 1%

16% Research & technology Overall 1%

1% Green/ North 1%

*Multiple response allowed

Fast Consulting | Page 3 Cameco Corporation | Public Support for the Continuation of Uranium Mining in Saskatchewan | November 2019 | SITUATION SUMMARY

8 OUT OF 10 THINK INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT TO SK Majority Think Industry Is Important to SK  Province-wide, 86% of respondents think the uranium mining 25% Extremely important Importance to industry is important to Saskatchewan’s economy, including 30% 64% who think it is extremely/very important. Saskatchewan 39% 86% Overall Very important 31% 78% North  In the North, 78% of respondents think the uranium mining 22% Moderately important industry is important to Saskatchewan’s economy, including 17% 61% who think it is extremely/very important. 7% Somewhat important 11% 2% Not important at all 7% Overall 5% Don't know 4% North

8 OUT OF 10 THINK INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT TO NORTH Majority Think Industry Is Important to the North

 Province-wide, 79% of respondents think the uranium mining 24% Extremely important Importance to industry is important to the economy and Indigenous 41% North communities of Northern Saskatchewan, including 62% who 38% Very important 79% Overall think it is extremely/very important. 25% 81% North 17% Moderately important  In the North, 81% of respondents think the uranium mining 15% 8% industry is important to the economy and Indigenous Somewhat important communities of Northern Saskatchewan, including 66% who 9% 2% think it is extremely/very important. Not important at all 6% Overall 11% Don't know 4% North

Fast Consulting | Page 4 Cameco Corporation | Public Support for the Continuation of Uranium Mining in Saskatchewan | November 2019 | SITUATION SUMMARY

POSITIVE IMPACT ON NORTHERN COMMUNITIES CONCLUSION  Northerners’ awareness of the industry’s impact on northern The 2019 provincial survey clearly indicates that the uranium mining education, training and infrastructure is generally high and industry continues to hold a place of importance in the minds of aligns with perceived importance of these things. Saskatchewan residents. Support remains high among survey respondents both province-wide and in the North, despite - 88% are aware the uranium mining industry provides significant challenges being faced by the industry due to persistent education & training for northern residents. This aligns with low uranium prices on the international market. These challenges 80% who think this is extremely/very important. have resulted in employment reductions, particularly in the North, - 84% are aware the industry offers partnerships with from the suspension of mining production at Rabbit Lake and northern educational institutions vs. 74% who think this is McArthur River and processing at Key Lake. extremely/very important. The continued high level of public support measured in this survey is - 83% are aware the industry has high school scholarship the result of the perception among Saskatchewan residents that the programs for northern students vs. 78% who think this is primary companies operating in the industry (Cameco Corporation extremely/very important. and Orano Canada) continue to operate safely and responsibly, - 82% are aware the industry builds mining roads and while contributing positively to the province. infrastructure also used by northern residents; 70% think Perceptions regarding the importance of the uranium mining this is extremely/very important. industry to Saskatchewan’s economy also remains high—the majority of residents province-wide and in the North think the  More than half (57%) of Northerners are aware of collaborative industry is important to the provincial economy and to Indigenous agreements between Cameco, Orano and some northern communities in Northern Saskatchewan. communities. The large majority (84%) of them agree the communities benefit.

Fast Consulting | Page 5