Nova Scotia overhauls process for approving mining projects

Key Takeaways:

• Nova Scotia is streamlining the approval process for metal mining projects by introducing a phased approach that allows companies to submit some regulatory requirements later in the project timeline, helping reduce delays and accelerate development.
• The province is establishing a specialized team within the Environment Department to handle mining applications, aiming to provide faster, more consistent decisions supported by industry-specific expertise.
• Environmental protections remain in place, with companies still required to meet national environmental standards and follow best practices, including compliance with the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage guidance.

The Whole Story:

The Nova Scotia government is overhauling its industrial approval process for metal mining projects, aiming to speed up development while maintaining environmental protections.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Tim Halman announced the changes Thursday, describing them as a “smarter” approach that reduces red tape and offers greater clarity for industry without weakening oversight.

“These changes will result in a smarter application process that is clearer for industry, maintains strong environmental protection and helps grow our economy,” Halman said during a news conference. “Our mining industry is critically important and can play a larger role in supplying the minerals that are in global demand to fight climate change.”

The revised process introduces a phased approach to approvals, allowing mining companies to submit some documentation—such as erosion control plans or land reclamation securities—later in the project timeline, rather than at the initial application stage. The province says this change will help reduce delays between environmental assessment and the start of construction.

A new dedicated “Large Industrial File Team” will also be established within the Environment Department to manage mining applications. Staff with mining and compliance expertise will focus on ensuring timely, consistent decisions, the government said.

The updated process includes easier-to-follow forms, plain-language guidance, and checklists to assist companies in meeting regulatory requirements. Officials say this will help reduce uncertainty and speed up reviews.

In addition, the province will require all metal mining projects to follow national Mine Environment Neutral Drainage guidance, aligning Nova Scotia’s environmental standards with federal best practices.

Christian West, president of the Mining Society of Nova Scotia, welcomed the changes, saying they strike a balance between efficiency and environmental protection.

“We expect [this] will improve the efficiency of the permitting process, all the while maintaining high environmental standards to develop projects that are indeed in the public good,” West said in a statement.

Metal mining projects in Nova Scotia require two separate approvals: an environmental assessment and an industrial approval, the latter of which regulates construction, operation, and eventual reclamation. The new approach builds on earlier updates to the province’s environmental assessment process announced in May.