Supporting Responsible Development, Reclamation, and Economic Growth in Nova Scotia

I wholeheartedly endorse the Proposed 15-Mile Processing Hub Project (inclusive of the 15-Mile, Old Austen, Old Mitchell sites).

As a Nova Scotian, and as someone whose family left the province when I was two years old due to a lack of well-paying employment opportunities, but returned nine years ago because of a similar opportunity, I have experienced firsthand the difference projects like this can make. They provide opportunities that benefit Nova Scotians of the past, present, and future. I firmly believe that this project can bring about significant economic growth, job creation, and long-term prosperity for all residents of our Province. According to the Project’s Initial Project Description (IPD), the Project is expected to produce 1,600 new construction jobs and 950 new operational jobs, of which it is projected that 1,380 construction jobs and 740 operational jobs will be filled by residents of Nova Scotia. Employment opportunities provided by this project will enable Nova Scotians to earn stable incomes and assist in providing for their families, as well as contribute to the local economy and the overall prosperity of their respective communities.

According to the IPD, the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution to Nova Scotia's GDP will be approximately $5 billion, and over $559 million in municipal, provincial, and federal taxes will be generated. It is also anticipated that hundreds of millions of dollars in direct expenditures will occur both during the construction phase of the project and during the operational phases of the project. Therefore, the benefits of this project should not be limited solely to the actual location of the mines, but rather spread out to include numerous segments of the economy of Nova Scotia, such as suppliers, contractors, transportation companies, tradespeople, professional services, etc.

In addition to the financial aspects of this project, it’s encouraging to see the very extensive redesign work made to the original design directly from the input received from various stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, local communities, stakeholders, and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia. The extent to which the original design has been revised demonstrates a commitment to reducing environmental impacts. Such modifications include reduced disturbance areas, wetland impacts, watershed impacts, and infrastructure footprints. Additionally, no longer will there be a haul road located near Old Austin (formerly Beaver Dam), there are increased setbacks from key waterways have been implemented, the removal of infrastructure from sensitive areas, the avoidance of known lichen populations, and reductions in water withdrawals. Some examples of the redesign work includes size of the footprint for each of the three sites has been decreased, both of the Old Austen and Old Mitchell sites have been converted into satellite pit operations, and processing will take place exclusively at the 15 Mile site. The Old Mitchell (formerly Cochrane Hill) site has had its design changed to remove the requirement for a tailings management facility and to avoid any potential roadway realignment. It also eliminates any potential impact on the St. Mary’s River watershed. It is clear that concerns regarding potential negative impacts expressed during previous reviews have been considered and included into the current design.

A further benefit of this Project is its ability to address historical mining impacts. As part of this Project, it is planned that there will be the management and remediation of existing historical tailing and other legacy mining materials that have been left behind at mining locations since mining began over one hundred years ago. Thus, an opportunity exists to improve environmental conditions in Nova Scotia while establishing a contemporary mining operation that will operate under today’s strict environmental regulations, monitoring requirements, and regulatory oversight.

At the Touquoy Gold Mine they have invested over $18 million in reclamation activities and have agreed to complete closure of the mine without placing a burden on tax payers. The Touquoy Gold mine currently has a $79.9 million bond in place with the Government of Nova Scotia for the successful Reclamation of that particular mine. St Barbara has also donated over 200 hectares of high ecological value lands to the Province of Nova Scotia as part of their environmental commitments. Additionally, to date, they have reclaimed over 55,000 tonnes of historic mine tailings at Touquoy. That demonstrated environmental stewardship provides assurance that future environmental commitments related to the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project will be fulfilled responsibly.

To date, St Barbara has entered into agreements with over 25 non-profit organizations along Nova Scotia’s Eastern shore under their Community Partnership Program and has contributed in excess of $2M in funding to local organizations delivering vital programs and services to Nova Scotian communities. These contributions provide tangible benefits to rural communities across Nova Scotia.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge that I am impressed with the continued dialogue with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia and the inclusion of Mi’kmaq feedback into Project planning processes. Responsible resource development in Nova Scotia requires ongoing consultations with First Nation peoples.

Nova Scotia has a rich history of mining. Mining continues to positively affect economic development, investments, and employment in rural communities throughout the province. For these reasons, I feel confident that a well-designed mining project like this one offers a balance of positive economic impacts with environmentally protective practices and community engagement.

Therefore, based on what has been presented, I believe the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project is a well-designed project that strikes a balance between creating economic opportunities, protecting our environment, investing in local communities, engaging First Nations, and providing environmentally responsible reclamation. I enthusiastically endorse proceeding with the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project through the review/evaluation process and encourage continued consideration.