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Uranium mining in Nova Scotia

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The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has been known to hold significant uranium deposits as early as the 1950s, with the largest uranium deposit in the Maritimes located in South Mountain. Mining companies invested heavily in exploration for uranium between 1976 and 1981, before the province placed a moratorium on the practice through a cabinet policy statement. Following exploration undertaken near Windsor Forks in 2008, the province enacted a legislative ban on uranium exploration in 2009.

The provincial government under Tim Houston repealed the ban on uranium exploration in 2025, sparking public opposition. A request for proposals for uranium exploration at three sites in the province did not receive any applications.

Geology

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View of South Mountain, Nova Scotia
The largest uranium deposit in the Maritimes is the Millet Brook Deposit in South Mountain
Further information: Geology of Nova Scotia

Abnormal levels of uranium, radium, and radon have been detected in the Horton Group and the basement of Atlantic Canada as early as the 1950s.[1] The South Mountain Batholith is known to have uranium deposits in the granitoid rocks of the area. The largest and most well-documented uranium deposit in the Maritimes is the Millet Brook Deposit in South Mountain, which also contains copper and silver.[1]

Uranium commonly occurs in Nova Scotia as a natural contaminant in groundwater. A 2018 review of four decades of research on uranium in water wells in the province determined the contamination to be geogenic in origin, and that drilled wells had a significantly higher chance of uranium contamination than dug wells.[2]

History

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Significant uranium exploration took place in Nova Scotia between 1976 and 1981, with companies such as Shell Canada, Gulf Minerals, and Esso Minerals investing heavily in exploration in the province.[3] In 1981, the provincial government under John Buchanan placed a moratorium on further uranium exploration, in the form of a cabinet policy statement.[4]

In 1982, the government held 44 public meetings on the topic as part of a public inquiry led by Judge Robert McCleave, releasing a report in 1985. A committee to reexamine uranium exploration was formed in 1985, producing a report in 1994 which recommended removing the moratorium on uranium exploration. The recommendation was not acted upon.[5]

On 1 April 2008, the Vancouver-based Capella Resources announced the results of their exploration near Windsor Forks, declaring findings of 100ppm of uranium at the site. The announcement specifically noted that the moratorium on uranium mining was not bound by provincial legislation.[4] In response to public pressure, the province effected a ban on uranium exploration and mining in 2009.[6]

The issue was revisited in 2019 by the province's Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development. Proponents of uranium mining, such as the Mining Association of Nova Scotia, claimed that the ban on uranium exploration was preventing economic development in the province in rural areas. The Mining Association believes that the ban was a political decision not based on science.[7] The committee ruled to assert the province's support for the ban, in respect to "significant public concern about the risks of uranium mining, resulting in recommendations by the 1985 inquiry to issue a moratorium on the industry and subsequent legislation by the NDP government in 2009."[8]

In February 2025, the Progressive Conservative government under Tim Houston expressed interest in revisiting uranium exploration and mining in the province. Houston said in an interview with The Chronicle Herald that the technology and safety practices around uranium mining had changed, and that it was time for a "proper discussion" on the issue. Houston and the Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau stated that Nova Scotia depends on imported energy resources, but does not allow development of its own.[9]

The provincial government of Nova Scotia repealed the ban on uranium exploration on 25 March 2025.[10] On 14 May 2025, the province amended its critical minerals list to include uranium and issued a request for proposals for uranium exploration in areas with known deposits.[11] Other critical minerals added to the list include tellurium, high purity silica, and silver.[12]

The three sites highlighted for uranium exploration were Louisville, in Pictou County; East Dalhousie, in Annapolis County; and Millet Brook, in Hants County. Municipal governments for each county expressed surprise at the announcement.[13] Mi'kmaq groups in the province such as the Sipekne'katik First Nation demanded that the province re-instate the ban, stating the decision was made without consultation with First Nations groups.[14] Other groups in the province issued statements in opposition to uranium exploration, such as the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment[15] and the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour.[16]

The request for proposals did not result in any applications by the deadline of 11 June 2025.[17] The Mining Association of Nova Scotia attributed the lack of interest to the enduring effects of the ban on exploration, stating that the mining industry still viewed the province as closed to mining.[17] Erin Adlakha, the Chair of Geology at Dalhousie University, blamed the lack of interest on poor timing. She stated that the four-week deadline was too short for mineral exploration companies to make a decision, adding that many of them likely had already planned summer exploration work elsewhere.[18] Derek Mombourquette, the interim leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, criticized the Houston government for rushing to lift the uranium ban. Mombourquette echoed concerns regarding lack of consultation, stating that the province failed to consult with municipalities and the Mi'kmaq.[19]

Following the lack of interest by mineral exploration companies, the province began their own research at the Millet Brook site. A statement from the Department of Natural Resources said the research would not involve any digging or drilling, and the department would be examining existing records and core samples while they "consider other next steps".[18] A landowner in Vaughan claimed that he received a telephone call from the MLA for West Hants Melissa Sheehy-Richard on 19 June 2025, requesting access to his private road for the provincial government for the purpose of uranium exploration. The Premier's office denied that the call took place.[20]

Economic and political influence

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Tariffs

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Further information: Tariffs in the second Trump administration

The decision to repeal the ban on uranium was influenced by the threat of tariffs imposed by the second Trump administration in 2025. The Houston government views development of uranium and other natural resources as a method of decreasing the province's dependence on imported energy and equalization payments.[9]

Regulatory environment

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Further information: Uranium mining in Canada

Uranium mining in Canada is regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the federal regulator of nuclear power and materials. Every province and territory is responsible for monitoring and developing their own regulations for uranium exploration.[21]

To undertake mineral exploration for uranium in Nova Scotia, a company must receive an exploration license from the Department of Natural Resources and other permits. Companies may conduct non-disturbance operations, such as examining rocks and soil, without a permit. Companies may also survey land from the air with permission from the department.[22]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Ryan & O'Beirne-Ryan (2009).
  2. ^ Kennedy & Drage (2020); Government of Nova Scotia (2021).
  3. ^ Mining Association of Nova Scotia (2025).
  4. ^ a b Patterson (2009).
  5. ^ Ecology Action Centre (2025).
  6. ^ CBC News (2008); Patterson (2009); Government of Nova Scotia (2009).
  7. ^ Gorman (2019); Mining Association of Nova Scotia (2025).
  8. ^ Baxter (2019).
  9. ^ a b Beswick (2025).
  10. ^ Gorman (2025); World Nuclear News (2025).
  11. ^ Thomas (2025a); Doucette (2025); Government of Nova Scotia (2025).
  12. ^ Thomas (2025a); World Nuclear News (2025).
  13. ^ Willick (2025).
  14. ^ Moore (2025).
  15. ^ CAPE (2025).
  16. ^ Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (2025).
  17. ^ a b Thomas (2025b); Grant (2025a).
  18. ^ a b Grant (2025b).
  19. ^ Thomas (2025b).
  20. ^ Capobianco & Lau (2025).
  21. ^ CNSC (2024).
  22. ^ Government of Nova Scotia (2025).

Sources

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Works cited

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Further reading

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Articles

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Legislation

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Audio and video

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canadian Deposits of Uranium and Thorium.
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