Latest news with #resourceDevelopment
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
There was zero interest in Nova Scotia's call for uranium exploration
Nova Scotia's whirlwind push to establish a uranium sector has yielded zero bids from companies interested in exploring for the critical mineral, a fact that left Premier Tim Houston unfazed Thursday and opponents of the industry relieved. The Progressive Conservative government opened a request for proposals last month for exploration permits in three areas that the province says have uranium deposits. No one had come forward by the June 11 deadline. "That's OK, we're going to move forward," Houston told reporters following a cabinet meeting. Houston said his government's next move on uranium is not clear. It may consider doing aerial surveillance to better understand the resource, he said. The government lifted decades-old restrictions on uranium exploration and mining in March and moved quickly to add uranium to its list of priority critical minerals. Houston said what's "crystal clear" is that Nova Scotia needs to grow its economy and, to that end, he wants to continue pushing for more resource development — be it uranium or something else. "We have to do a better job of helping Nova Scotians understand that if you want a new rink, and you want a new community centre, and you want a new road and you want more doctors ... something has to pay for those," said Houston. "In our country right now, Alberta is getting tired of paying for them, the West is getting tired of paying for them," he continued, referring to federal transfers known as equalization payments. Over the past several months, there has been significant public pushback against Houston's new resource development push. People have complained that it was unexpected and not part of last fall's election campaign platform, and that there has been insufficient consultation with the public and the Mi'kmaq. In response to the call for uranium exploration, several municipalities asked the province to slow down. Houston said Thursday many people simply did not understand the process. "Drills weren't going to turn tomorrow and people's wells poisoned," Houston said. "We actually care about this province. We care about the people." Landowner relieved Nicole Cadek said the lack of interest in uranium exploration licences is a relief. Cadek owns about seven hectares of land in Hants County, about half of which was included in the Millet Brook exploration area. She was upset when she learned through a letter from the Natural Resources Department last month that the province was advertising some of her land for uranium exploration. She's hoping the province will now change course. "This lack of interest by mining companies, as well as the large public rejection of uranium mining, shows that the uranium mining ban should be put back in place," Cadek said in an email Thursday to CBC News. The Mining Association of Nova Scotia has a different take on the former ban, which was implemented in 2009 after a long-standing moratorium. "[The ban] sent a signal to the global mining industry that the province was closed for business and not committed to science-based decision making," the industry group said in a statement responding to the lack of bids. "It will take time and additional policy changes to undo that harm." The mining association said the province is "on the right track," and now needs to streamline the permitting process for mining projects. Opposition reacts The opposition said the lack of bids on uranium licences begs questions about Houston's "agenda." "Where is the urgency coming from when Nova Scotians didn't ask for this and there doesn't seem to be interest from industry?" said NDP MLA Lisa Lachance in a statement. Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said he was not surprised. "Obviously, at this point right now, industry isn't looking at uranium in the province," he told reporters. "I think we need to engage with communities and take a pause."
National Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Geoff Russ: First Nations let down by David Eby's anti-oil dogma
Attorney General Sean Fraser jumped into a vat of hot water last week when he asserted that First Nations do not have final veto over new resource projects. Article content While he swiftly apologized for causing offence with his blunt, but admittedly truthful, statement, the controversy gave cover to Canada's real anti-development culprits: David Eby and his NDP government in British Columbia. Article content Article content Anybody claiming or celebrating that First Nations are some sort of obstacle to resource development is ignorant, ideological, or both. Indigenous communities and leaders are among the most enthusiastic backers of natural gas facilities and oil pipelines in B.C., and they are as badly let down by this provincial government as anybody else. Article content Article content The NDP have been in power since 2017, and have long abandoned any pretence of vision, direction, or adaptability, which has resulted in real economic and social harm. This tendency was on display again last week when Eby and his ministers refused to endorse another oil pipeline to the coast at a meeting of the premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Article content Until 2025, resource development had been a fraught and fiery topic in Canada. Debates over costs, consultations, and climate goals slowed down and killed major projects like Energy East, Northern Gateway, and more. Article content Then U.S. President Donald Trump embarked on his quest to use tariffs to remake the global commercial order and threatened to escalate a trade war against Canada. Suddenly, every government in Canada, conservative or progressive, began admitting or alluding to the necessity of diversifying the trade of Canadian energy, our single largest export. Article content Article content Even Quebec Premier François Legault signalled that he was open to the possibility of building new natural gas facilities and pipelines in the province. It is rare that Alberta, the federal government, and Quebec agree on energy, and it would be a historic and actionable opportunity if the B.C. NDP were not so determined to scuttle it. Article content Article content A quick overview of the B.C. NDP's anti-pipeline history will make it very clear that this government has no love or desire for such undertakings. Article content Under Eby's predecessor John Horgan, the B.C. NDP fought tooth and nail to stop the twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline. Despite the clear economic, social, and political advantages of expanding TMX, the NDP had to be crushed in the courts in 2020 before waving the white flag.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Premier pushes plan for mining exploration despite Bill 15 backlash
Premier David Eby has unveiled his plan to speed up mining development in northwestern B.C. to boost the provincial economy. But the announcement was overshadowed by growing opposition to a controversial law that will fast-track infrastructure and resource projects. Eby says he has a plan to enable the province to fast-track mining development in northwestern BC, while respecting First Nations rights and conserving B.C.'s sensitive ecosystems. "High environmental standards and partnerships with First Nations are not at odds with resource development," Eby said at a news conference overlooking the Port of Vancouver on Monday. "Here in British Columbia, economic development, conservation of precious water and land and partnership with First Nations go together." Eby says there's no reason it should take 12 to 15 years to approve a new mining project in B.C. "The northwest is rich with critical minerals and metals that are the building blocks for much of the technology we rely on for our lives today, and they're also essential to new technology that will power our lives in the future. From electric cars and batteries to wind turbines and solar panels, we can't do it without these resources." At stake, he says, is almost $50 billion in economic potential and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. Key to the government's economic growth plan is Bill 15. It's controversial proposed legislation that would give the cabinet the power to accelerate public infrastructure projects like schools and hospitals, and "provincially significant" private resource projects like critical mineral mines. Indigenous leaders, environmental groups and the Union of BC Municipalities say the NDP government is giving itself unchecked power to push through resource projects with limited consultation or ecological safeguards. Tsartlip First Nations Chief Don Tom called Eby a "snake oil salesman" whose pledge to First Nations that they will be consulted about major projects amounts to "trust us, bro." "Trust has been broken between First Nations and the David Eby government," said Tom. Hugh Braker, who sits on the First Nations Summit's political executive, said Indigenous leaders who voted for the NDP in the election feel betrayed. "All the promises they made during the campaign last fall have gone out the window. They say damn the environment, full speed ahead." Eby says the government's economic plans for mining are not connected to the proposed law. "There's no connection between Bill 15 and today's announcement," he said. That, despite mines being a key example cited at Eby's news conference on May 1, when he announced the bill. Eby acknowledged that a mining project could be deemed "provincially significant" and therefore fast-tracked under that same bill. "We do have theoretically — should the bill pass — opportunities under Bill 15," Eby said in response to a question from CBC News. "But even if Bill 15 didn't exist, we'd still be doing this announcement today." The Association for Mineral Exploration said in a statement that in order for the province's proposed strategy for mining exploration to succeed, "it must be an open and transparent process that includes the mineral exploration sector at the table with government, First Nations and other partners." Three First Nations leaders at Eby's event — Talhtan, Kaska͛ and Taku River Tlingit First Nations — backed the province's plan to fast-track mining development. "We want to see our lives change for the better," said Beverly Slater, the president of the Talhtan Central Government. In 2023, the Tahltan Central Government and the province reached a co-operation deal on the Red Chris gold and copper mine located in Tahltan Territory. MLAs are set to vote on the final stage of the bill this week. Don Tom says if it passes, First Nations groups are prepared to launch legal action.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Controversy over fast-track legislation
Vancouver Watch There's growing opposition to new laws aimed at fast-tracking infrastructure and resource development in B.C.
National Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Poilievre says Guilbeault is a threat to national unity after pipeline comments
OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Thursday that Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault posed an imminent danger to Confederation, one day after Guilbeault's off-the-cuff comments on pipelines set off a firestorm in Alberta. Article content Article content 'Yes he is, absolutely,' Poilievre said when asked by reporters if Guilbeault was a threat to national unity in his current role as Minister of Canadian Identity and Quebec Lieutenant. Article content 'I just find it astonishing that (Prime Minister Mark) Carney would appoint a man who says that we don't need any pipelines built,' said Poilievre. Article content '(Guilbeault) wants to block road construction, he's against nuclear power, he's against all forms of economic development… for the entire country.' Article content Guilbeault said on Wednesday that Canada should maximize the use of existing pipelines before building new ones, asserting incorrectly that the recently operational Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) was only at 'about 40 per cent capacity.' Article content TMX has been consistently running between 76 per cent and 86 per cent capacity since it opened in May 2024, according to the latest available data from Canada's Energy Regulator. Article content Poilievre said that Guilbeault's pipeline comments fit a pattern of 'antagon(ism) to… resource producing provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta, who rightly feel like they have been mistreated by (the Liberals).' Article content Poilievre, who grew up in Calgary, will be running in an upcoming byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot after losing his Ottawa-area seat in last month's federal election. Article content Guilbeault was appointed by Carney as Minister of Canadian Identity and Quebec Lieutenant in March, after serving as environment minister for three years under Justin Trudeau. Article content He stayed in this role after a post-election cabinet shuffle earlier this week. Article content Guilbeault was easily re-elected in his Montreal-area riding, beating NDP challenger Nimâ Machouf by a 33-point margin. Article content Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was one of many in her province who were miffed by Guilbeault's off-script pipeline comments. 'This is just another example of how misleading and destructive this former environment minister was to Alberta's and Canada's economy and investment climate,' wrote Smith on social media. Article content
