Article contentThe general view of Nova Scotia is summed up by this anonymous quote from a survey respondent:Article content“The regulatory environment in Nova Scotia is a major challenge. There are roadblocks at every turn, and several regulatory bodies appear unwilling to collaborate with us as a mining company.”Article contentRepealing Nova Scotia’s uranium ban was an important first step in rehabilitating Nova Scotia’s image in the global mining industry. (The surveys for this report were completed in 2024 so they do not reflect any potential improvement.)Article contentThe next step Nova Scotia needs to take is restructuring its permitting system for the mineral sector by putting one department in charge, as other provinces do.Article contentIn other provinces, a Department of Mines is responsible for permitting and has the expertise to regulate the sector. It is mostly a one-stop shop, ensuring permitting is efficient and effective, that it adheres to reasonable timelines and holds the industry to the highest environmental standards.Article contentArticle contentThat is not the case in Nova Scotia. Here, a range of departments are involved in permitting but no one department is in charge.Article contentAlso, most of the government’s experts in mining and minerals work in the Department of Natural Resources’ Geoscience and Mines Branch, but they have almost no role in permitting. We are almost entirely regulated by people in various departments who are not experts in mining.Article contentThat makes no sense, and it is the opposite of how other provinces do it.Article contentEvery other province is seen as having a better system than Nova Scotia. They all structure theirs substantively the same way. We need to change ours and copy theirs.Article contentWe can create more jobs, and more government revenues to help pay for programs, with government partnership.Article contentSean Kirby is executive director of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia.Article content
COMMENTARY: Government obstacles hamper Nova Scotias mineral sector
