Nova Scotia moves to lift uranium mining ban

The Mining Association of Nova Scotia welcomed the province’s decision to introduce legislation on Tuesday that would revoke a longstanding ban on uranium exploration and mining. 

The prohibition, initially established as a moratorium during the 1981 provincial election, has been a contentious issue for over four decades. In 2009, the NDP government formally legislated a full ban. The policy shift is expected to generate discussion on its environmental, economic and social implications.

Sean Kirby, executive director of provincial mining associaton, echoed Premier Tim Houston’s sentiment that it is time to “take the ‘no’ out of Nova Scotia.” He argued that banning entire sectors constitutes “lazy public policy” and noted significant advancements in uranium mining technology.

Canada is the world’s third-largest uranium producer, mostly from northern Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin. While uranium is listed as a critical mineral at the national level, Nova Scotia has not included it due to the longstanding ban. Another issue is that uranium exploration falls under provincial jurisdiction, while mining and processing are regulated federally by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. 

1976

While uranium-bearing minerals were identified in Nova Scotia more than a century ago, exploration efforts remained sporadic until 1976. That year, a Geological Survey of Canada study highlighted the province’s potential for uranium exploration, prompting a surge in claims. By the following year, the land covered by uranium exploration licenses had more than doubled to over 8,000 sq. kilometres. 

The provincial ban stemmed from nuclear power’s poor image at the time after nuclear accidents Three Mile Island and Chernobyl later reinforced after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. But in recent years, its image has been rehabilitated. Demand for nuclear fuel is rising as countries turn to the non-emissions power source to reduce climate change impacts. The West is limiting uranium imports from countries such as Russia while the U.S. produces only a fraction of the ore it needs, factors promoting local exploration and mining. 

Kirby stressed that modern uranium mining techniques have eliminated the need for tailings ponds—large above-ground waste storage areas—by employing more mechanized and remotely operated extraction methods, minimizing direct worker exposure. He further contended that past prohibitions have stifled economic growth, discouraged investment, and led to job losses across the province.

Polls

The association recently published a report titled “Take the ‘no’ out of Nova Scotia: End the Uranium Ban,” highlighting the potential benefits of uranium mining. It also notes that Canada—along with 21 other nations—has pledged to triple nuclear power generation by 2050 to meet net-zero emissions targets.

In Nova Scotia, polling data indicate that 54% of residents support uranium exploration and mining, while 22% oppose it. Kirby pointed to Saskatchewan as a successful model, where uranium mining has been a major economic driver since the 1950s, with 83% of residents supporting the industry.

Nova Scotia’s mining and quarrying sector employs over 3,000 people, primarily in rural areas, with an average annual compensation of $102,000 (US$72,000). Proponents argue that lifting the uranium ban could further stimulate economic growth and job creation.