Statement on Progress in the Mining Sector
NOTE: The following is a statement from Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources.
Our government is protecting our future by building our mining sector in Nova Scotia. There is momentum that is undeniable.
Over the past few months, we have seen major projects move forward that will support communities, create jobs and grow our economy. As we face global uncertainty due to trade tariffs from the United States, now it is more important than ever to responsibly develop our resources here in Nova Scotia.
Last month, we announced the Nova Scotia Mining Roundtable to strengthen collaboration with industry and support responsible mineral development across the province. Yesterday, the roundtable met for the first time.
We met with sector leaders to discuss practical ways to support investment, improve competitiveness and grow Nova Scotia’s mining sector.
This roundtable will be a game-changer. It will help ensure we are supporting industry and communities responsibly, while positioning Nova Scotia to make the most of new opportunities in mining and critical minerals.
That momentum continued last week when Scotia Mine Ltd.’s zinc mine in Cooks Brook, Halifax County, received approval for changes to its industrial approval, allowing the mine to restart operations. This is the latest project to get underway and is a significant milestone for Nova Scotia and an important step forward for our critical minerals sector.
As the first critical mineral mining project to receive approval since the release of Nova Scotia’s Critical Minerals Strategy, Scotia Mine shows that our province can support responsible resource development while creating jobs, attracting investment and contributing to the clean energy transition.
The mine will produce zinc, a critical mineral used in renewable energy technologies, batteries, electric vehicles, infrastructure and protecting steel from corrosion. It will also produce lead used in batteries and gypsum, which is important to housing and agriculture. These are materials the world needs, and Nova Scotia is well positioned to help supply them.
The restart of this historic mining operation is expected to create about 150 direct jobs and support economic activity for more than 14 years. By using existing infrastructure, the project can reduce development timelines and costs while supporting a modern operation that meets today’s environmental standards.
Together, the launch of the mining roundtable, restart of Scotia Mine and the multiple other projects gaining momentum show the progress we are making to build a stronger, more competitive and more responsible mining sector. Nova Scotians know that these mining projects will create good-paying jobs here at home, while helping pay for healthcare, education, infrastructure and public services.
We will continue working with industry, communities and partners to move projects forward that create opportunities for Nova Scotians while protecting the environment and supporting long-term sustainability.
Additional Resources:
Mining-related news releases: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=344