Will Mining Be A Growth Sector In Atlantic Canada?
David Campbell is a Moncton-based economic development consultant and co-host of the Huddle podcast, Insights. The following piece was originally published on his blog, It’s the Economy, Stupid!, on Substack.
We have been talking a lot about workforce development in recent months, but a strong and thriving Atlantic Canada economy needs high-value export industries. Could mining be one of those sectors?
Don Mills and I will be starting conversations with mining sector representatives this week, and continue over the next few weeks, to find out.
Of course, the region has a long history with mining. Nova Scotia, in particular, once relied heavily on mining, especially in Cape Breton and northern Nova Scotia. I believe you can still tour an old mine.
New Brunswick was a major potash, zinc, and lead producer but there’s not much left in both cases. There is still some mining and exploration going on, but the question is: will we capitalize on this opportunity?
There are many reasons to like the mining sector.
Most of the minerals we have in the region are needed to support net-zero 2050 goals around the world. The sector offers high-wage jobs and royalty streams for government. Plus, mines tend to provide stable employment for decades (the second Sussex potash mine closure was an exception to the rule). Once a company deploys hundreds of millions or even billions in capital, it is hard to walk away.
New Brunswickers will remember the huge pushback against uranium mining over a decade ago. Uranium mining will be key to growing the nuclear energy sector but getting public support, particularly in adjacent communities, will be key.
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