Uranium Mining in Nova Scotia

Bill 6: An Act respecting Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources

The Government of Nova Scotia repealed this legislation that banned uranium exploration and mining effective 26 March 2025. The government says its aim is to allow for research and to support industry to pursue new opportunities.

You can access the call for proposals here.

The proclaimation of Bill 6 repealed the moritorium on uranium exploration and mining in Nova Scotia, the ban on hydraulic frackering (Fracking) and open the province up to the exporation and mining of other marketable minerals such as lithium. All without substantial community and Mi’kmaw consultation.

We have gathered resource materials and background information here to help understand the concerns and consequences of uranium mining and fracking and to try and cut through the greenwashing being presented by the Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS) and the provincial governement.

Following the snap provincial general election of 2024, the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party gained a supermajority in the Nova Scotia Legislature. Although 43 of the sitting members represent the PC party, only 27% of eligible voters actually supported the Party. It could be said that the Progressive Conservative Party was very successful in motivating their supporters to get out and vote. The Liberal Party has 2 MLA’s in the Legislature, the NDP are represented by 9 members and one Independent MLA was elected to the Legislature. This is important to remember as this supermajority gives the sitting government leeway to present and approve new Bills and amendments to existing legislation without having to listen to the Opposition, since they have a majority vote on all issues.

Why is this important?

Tim Houston’s government has introduced a number of bills that many feel do not reflect the best interests of Nova Scotians, community health and the protection of our water, air and lands. Check here for a summary of the Bills introduced.

What is Bill 6?

This Bill will essentially remove the moratorium on uranium mining and fracking in the province and will include exploration for lithium and other minerals. The moratorium on fracking was put in place in 2013, after extensive consultation with communities, scientists and health professionals

On October 27 2021, Tim Houston was recorded during a debate with Gary Burrill and in answer to a direct question from Iain Rankin that Tim Houston, as Premier of the province, would maintain the ban on fracking for the duration of his Premier-ship. That ban is now being lifted.

In 2006, the NDP government set a full-out ban on uranium mining. Again, this was the result of extensive consultation with communities, health professional and scientists.

Why is it okay in Saskatchewan and not in Nova Scotia? Some things to consider:

• Nova Scotia is the second smallest province with the most densely populated rural areas.
• Saskatchewan is 651,900 km2 with a population of 1,250,909
• Nova Scotia is 55,285 km2 with a population of 979,115
• The Cigar Lake mine is located about 600 km from the nearest community, so pretty remote
• It is about 650 km from Yarmouth to Sydney with hundreds of communities in between. There is no remote area large enough to accommodate a uranium mine without it being in someone’s backyard.

Tim Houston’s government has declared “open season” on mining in Nova Scotia. That means: Uranium, Lithium, Fracking, Gold and the search for other marketable minerals. If you add to that the industrial wind projects and industrial forestry, we suspect there will be very little clean water left in the province and few places where natural forests have not been replaced by softwood plantations and dead zones left by these mining projects.

Dr David Maxwell M.D. :submission to the Voluntary Planning Board on uranium mining in Nova Scotia (2008)

Gillian Thomas: “Exploring” the arguments made by MANS in favour of ending Nova Scotia’s ban on uranium exploration and mining.