Newfoundland is the easternmost province of Canada. The province has two sections: Newfoundland, which is an island, and Labrador, on the mainland of Canada. Labrador is bounded by Québec province on the south, west, and north; by the Atlantic Ocean on the east; and by the Strait of Belle Isle on the southeast. Newfoundland is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and south, by the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the west, and by the Strait of Belle Isle on the north.

Crude and refined oil, fish products, newsprint, iron ore and electricity account for most exported goods. Although services represent a relatively small portion of exports, their value has been rising due to growth in industries such as tourism, communications, business and computer services. A 2006 real estate survey has estimated the population of Newfoundland at 505,469.

Clarenville

Grand Falls - Winsor

Louise Stead Homefinders Real Estate Phone: 1-800-563-3731 Web Site Louise Stead is a dedicated Real Estate Consultant for Homefinders Real Estate Ltd. in the Gander area. Louise's number one priority is her clients; her personable, enthusiastic and professional approach are the qualities that make her so successful in her field. Louise's extensive knowledge of the Gander market and her ability to give you the straight facts ensures confidence in your buying and selling choices.

Marystown

Farming is of only minor importance in the provincial economy. Labrador is almost completely unsuited to agriculture, and on Newfoundland the poor soil and a short growing season discourage the raising of most crops. The chief crops grown are root vegetables, such as potatoes, turnips, carrots, and beets; blueberries; broccoli; sui choy; and bok choy. Over 85 percent of the farm income comes from sales of livestock and livestock products, mainly chickens, dairy products, and eggs. Wild blueberries are the province’s only agricultural export.

From 1930 through 1960 the cutting and processing of the province’s forest resources was its leading industry by value. By the early 1960s, when forestry was surpassed in economic importance by mining, about 30 percent of Newfoundland’s land area was still forested and Labrador’s extensive forests had scarcely been touched. The forests consist predominantly of such softwoods as black spruce and balsam fir, which are ideal for making pulp and paper. Newsprint is the principal use of the province’s wood products.

The coastal waters of Newfoundland and Labrador constitute one of the world’s best fisheries, and many excellent harbors shelter small fishing fleets. Cod was the chief catch; however, in 1992 a ban on cod fishing was passed by the federal government because of years of overfishing. Today Atlantic salmon, flounder, turbot, halibut, crab, lobster, shrimp, and herring are the primary catches. Farther offshore are other rich grounds, including the Grand Banks, formerly visited by craft from many countries. The cod stocks appeared to be rebounding by 1997, and the government reopened the fishery on a limited basis.

Mining is a major economic activity in Newfoundland and Labrador. The most important mineral is iron ore, which accounted for 98 percent of the value of the province’s mineral production in 1998. The province is Canada’s leading producer of iron ore. Most of the iron ore comes from Labrador. High-grade iron ore was first shipped from the Ruth Lake area in extreme northwestern Labrador in 1954, but now the main iron mining district is the Wabush Lake region about 160 km (about 100 mi) to the south. Shipments of concentrates from that area began in 1962. Iron mining in Newfoundland began on Bell Island in the 1890s, but ceased in that area in 1966.

Some silver and gold are also mined. At times lead and zinc have been produced in Newfoundland. A major nickel deposit, yet to be exploited, was found at Voisey’s Bay in Labrador in 1994.

The mining of the province’s construction materials, including limestone, shale, clay, sand, gravel, and stone, has been spurred by the great amounts of building resulting from the iron boom. New towns such as Labrador City have sprung up, and transportation of the ore has been facilitated by the construction of a railroad through western Labrador to Sept-Îles, Québec.

Other mineral deposits, notably the high-quality uranium in Labrador and offshore deposits of petroleum and natural gas, have not been exploited because of the high costs of development. However, in 1990 construction began on production facilities in the Hibernia oil field, located offshore about 310 km (about 190 mi) southeast of St. John’s. The rig began producing oil in 1997, becoming the first effort to drill commercially for oil off the coast of Newfoundland.

The province’s chief manufactured goods are processed fish, newsprint, and dairy products. The development of manufacturing has been held back by the small size of the domestic market, the great distance to other markets, and the limited amount of skilled labor available in the province owing to low wages. To compensate for the economic isolation of Newfoundland, the provincial government in the 1950s and 1960s aided the development of about two dozen new industries, most of which quickly failed. Among the few that succeeded were a particleboard mill at Donovans and a phosphorus plant at Long Harbour.

Most of the factories on the island of Newfoundland are in or near St. John’s. These produce some of the food, paints, beer, fishing equipment, and other goods that the islanders need. Other small concerns include boatyards, sawmills, seafood canneries, and brickyards.

The province’s first hydroelectric plants were built in the early 20th century, initially to light St. John’s and to drive the street railway, and then to power the paper mills. The first overall plan to develop water power came with the creation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission in 1964. Virtually all of the province’s power comes from hydroelectric plants. The largest complex is at Churchill Falls on the upper Churchill River in Labrador. Its first three generators began producing power in 1972. The entire complex, with 11 generators, was completed during the mid-1970s. The major power plants on the island of Newfoundland are at Deer Lake and at the Baie d’Espoir. By 1991 a majority of the province’s energy was produced in the Churchill Falls complex. Domestic demand consumed only 29 percent of the total production. The rest was exported, mainly to Québec.

Return to Previous Page

Canada Real Estate Directory

Newfoundland house cottage & cabin rentals