For the second straight year, New Brunswick is the top-ranked Atlantic Canadian province in the Fraser Institute’s annual Survey of Mining Companies.

The Canadian-based public policy think tank’s survey looks at what global jurisdictions are regarded as the best and worst places to invest in by the mining industry. New Brunswick’s ranking dropped three spots to seventh overall in 2013 from fourth overall in 2012, but that still put it two spots ahead of Newfoundland and Labrador. Canada’s eastern-most province came in ninth place (out of 112 jurisdictions) after placing 18th overall in the 2012 survey.

Nova Scotia didn’t fare nearly as well as its neighbours, dropping from 12th overall in 2012 to 29th in the 2013 rankings. The Fraser Institute said the drop was in large part due to worsening perceptions of uncertainty concerning the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of existing regulations; quality of the geological database and security (huh?). P.E.I. was not included in the survey because the Fraser Institute did not receive at least 10 responses regarding how desirable, or not, the province is viewed as a mining destination – the minimum number required in order to be ranked.

New Brunswick might be the mining industry’s investment darling in the Fraser Institute’s rankings, but when it comes to actual investment, Newfoundland and Labrador is the belle of the ball, as the statistics above show.