Latest news with #resourceDevelopment
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
N.S. government pushes for buy-in as some municipalities balk at resource development
Social Sharing Nova Scotia's minister of finance and municipal affairs said municipalities need to get onside with the province's push for more resource development, but stopped short Friday of spelling out what consequences they'll face if they don't. "We're just trying to explain the reality that we see the need to grow our resource economy, to have money to do all of these things," John Lohr said in an interview. He made the comments following a luncheon hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce where he was the featured speaker. In his remarks to the business crowd, Lohr spoke about the economic challenges the province is facing because of slowing population growth and uncertainty brought on by American tariffs. "We need to be more productive," he said. For months, Premier Tim Houston and his cabinet have been promoting more resource development to bring in additional revenue. Lohr noted on Friday that the results will not be immediate; rather, it's a "medium- to long-term" solution. Some municipalities have been pushing back against the province's plans, raising concerns about the pace of change and lack of consultation. When some municipalities recently asked the province to slow down its plans for uranium exploration, Houston responded with letters that suggested future provincial funding was on the line. Houston was even more pointed in a subsequent statement to CBC News. "If municipalities want more investment, they must allow for more economic development," the premier said earlier this week. Asked whether that means the province will cut off municipalities that don't comply, Lohr said, "I think it's way too early to say that." Liberal MLA Iain Rankin said the premier's message to municipalities is "entirely inappropriate." "Where is the line? Is it going to go down the line of infrastructure or schools or any important funding that goes to communities across the province?" Rankin said in an interview. "These are provincial taxpayers that live in these communities and they have every right to present their views to [municipal] council, and council has every right to vote on those issues." At least five municipalities recently asked the province to pause its plans to issue exploration licences for uranium in three areas with known deposits. Those requests ended up being moot — for now, at least — as no companies responded to the call for bids. The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is looking to take things a step further. A subcommittee of the municipal council voted earlier this week to ask the province to reinstate a moratorium on uranium exploration and development that the Houston government repealed earlier this year.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ontario lawsuit underscores Indigenous anger over being left out of resource decisions
Saugeen Ojibway Nation is taking Ontario to court, arguing decades of unpaid salt royalties and a pattern of exclusion from key decisions about stone and sand quarries in its territory reflect a broader problem: resource development that leaves Indigenous nations left out of the conversation. The First Nation spoke to CBC News on Wednesday, the first time it has spoken publicly about the issue since filing its lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court last July. The suit accuses the Ontario government of reaping decades of royalties from the world's largest salt mine in Goderich, Ont., while at the same time sidestepping the First Nation in the opening and operation of an some 500 sand and gravel quarries within their 1.5 million-acre traditional territory. Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) is asking the court for $167.6 million in damages related to back payment of salt royalties, the alleged breach of the Crown's treaty obligations and a failure to offer meaningful consultation, according to the latest court filings. The case highlights renewed Indigenous outrage as Parliament Hill and the Ontario Legislature push to fast-track development through Bill C-5 and Ontario's Bill 5 — both of which have been slammed for weakening environmental protections and expanding Crown powers at the expense of Indigenous rights. Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources said it would not comment, as the matter is before the courts. Quarries fuelled Ontario's building boom The new legislation will only deepen what has long been a sore point in the relationship between SON and the Crown, according to Chief Greg Nadjiwon of the Chippewas of the Nawash Unceded First Nation — a community that, along with the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation, makes up SON. A chunk of salt from the Goderich mine, which falls within the traditional territory of Saugeen Ojibway Nation. (CBC) "We don't receive any kind of fair payment for the extraction of resources in our homeland," he said. The lawsuit claims that, between 2004 and 2017, the Crown allowed hundreds of stone and sand quarries to open on SON's sprawling traditional territory, which spans from Tobermory in the north to Goderich in the south to Alliston in the west. Court documents suggest the quarries supply the province with some 300,000,000 tonnes of aggregate each year. Aggregate is a vital raw ingredient in countless construction and infrastructure projects across Ontario — from the expansion of major highways such as the 401, to crossings, such as the Gordie Howe International Bridge, to the slew of skyscrapers that have sprouted like weeds as part of a recent vertical land rush in Ontario's major cities. This map of shows the First Nation's traditional territory in southwestern Ontario. (Saugeen Ojibway Nation) As quarries have helped fuel an urban building boom, the Saugeen claim those operations have also had a damaging impact on their environment and culture — destroying wildlife habitats, threatening archaeological sites, disturbing ancestral resting places and razing forests that provide their people with traditional medicines. "The landscape is changing on a daily basis," Nadjiwon said. First Nations argue that both the federal and Ontario bills erode their constitutional right to be m,eaningfully consulted on projects in their traditional territories. Tensions have escalated and not just in courtrooms. Ontario Premier Doug Ford elicited fury this week while defending Bill 5 when he said he was willing to give First Nations what they want in exchange for their support on mining projects, but added they "can't keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government" for more money. The remark drew immediate backlash, with Indigenous leaders condemning it as racist. Amid mounting pressure, Ford apologized Thursday. "I get pretty passionate and I just want to say I sincerely apologize for my words, not only [did it] hurt all the chiefs in that room, but all First Nations." Also on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Bill C-5, calling it "enabling legislation." He promised that Indigenous people would not only be consulted, they would be able to help define what he called "a nation-building project." "That is how you build a nation. That's very much how we've designed it," he said. "That's how we'll be moving forward." Except Indigenous leaders don't necessarily see it that way. Randall Kahgee, an Indigenous rights lawyer, band councillor and former chief of Saugeen First Nation says both pieces of legislation, which both give governments the option of sidestepping the consultation processes, are akin to stacking the deck in the government's favour. "This is the frustrating part. You seem to have some momentum and then someone changes the rules of the game or they shift the goal post." Kahgee says the legislation adds insult to injury, especially as Indigenous people often struggle to overcome a perception they are unwilling to do business, when it reality their communities are only evaluating ways to mitigate risk to their way of life. "Anything less than that is taking."
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Premiers Moe, Smith call for end to ‘federal interference' in resource development
WATCH: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith call for end to 'federal interference' in resource development. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are making a unified 'call for change' to federal policies that apply to resource development. 'Development of provincial resources is provincial responsibility, and that includes the development of our transmission and electricity grids – and if we can unite the common purpose, we can ensure that the rest of Canada hears our voices,' Smith told reporters following the meeting. The two leaders and their respective caucuses met in the border city of Lloydminster Wednesday. The meeting was advertised as a summit for the two governments to discuss enhancing their respective energy and agriculture sectors. 'This was a great opportunity for us to bring our caucuses together … working alongside, hopefully the federal government as well, in really correcting some of the regulatory space that we have in this nation," Moe added. During his remarks, Moe stated the importance of a port-to-port corridor in getting resources and energy to markets across the globe. The two governments included a list of priorities following the meeting. They included: Repealing or overhauling the Impact Assessment Act to respect provincial jurisdiction and eliminate barriers to nation building resource development and transportation projects. to respect provincial jurisdiction and eliminate barriers to nation building resource development and transportation projects. Eliminating the proposed oil and gas emissions cap Scrapping the Clean Electricity Regulations Lifting the oil tanker ban off the northwest coast Abandoning Canada's net zero vehicle mandate Repealing any federal law or regulation that purports to regulate industrial carbon emissions, plastics or the commercial free speech of energy companies. Moe reiterated his hope that Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government backs up statements made at the first ministers meeting in Saskatoon – including the intention to make Canada an energy superpower. The event comes just weeks after the first ministers meeting in Saskatoon – and not even a full day after G7 leaders wrapped up their summit in Kananaskis, Alta. -More details to come…
CBC
12-06-2025
- 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
11-06-2025
- 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.
