Should we taking mining seriously in the Maritimes?

It is hard to believe that just 20 years ago New Brunswick generated more GDP from mining than Newfoundland and Labrador (this excludes oil and gas). In real terms, New Brunswick generated over a billion dollars per year in provincial GDP. Now? Around $160 million - mostly from small quarries serving up crushed stone.

Nova Scotia started from a smaller base but has also not seen much mining activity at all over the past 20-30 years.

This week the BC government announced a new tax break for mining to supplement other incentives and supports in recent months to try and stimulate new mining investment in the province. There are a number of provinces working hard to attract new mining investment. What about this region?

I have asked this question many times to those who should know and have received a variety of different answers. Some people say NB and NS are too small and the relatively large rural population makes it more difficult to develop mining compared to, say, Labrador. Others say the ‘smallness’ and proximity of mineral deposits to urban centres and transportation infrastructure should be an advantage.

I would like to see us give it the ol’ college try. Do we have the appropriate legislation and regulation? Could we find a way to streamline development processes? Do we have First Nations engagement and leadership? Do we have comparative incentives? Do we have a sales team out hustling new mining investment? Are local communities around the province championing mining opportunities in their neck of the woods?

Following a theme I have promoted for more than two decades now, I would like to see economic development in this region shift from a focus on trying to coax individual firms already here in the region to expand with various financial incentives (without knowing the ones that would have expanded without government cash) to working to leverage specific assets and attributes into new sector development opportunities (think green hydrogen as a recent example).

Given the global demand for minerals to feed the clean energy transition, maybe we should be taking this seriously?