natural resources

New Brunswick has been in the mining industry for a long time, since long before it was a even a province.

How the Holt government has put forward a comprehensive strategy that it expects positions the province as a leader in responsible, sustainable mining, while unlocking the economic potential of the government described as the province’s rich geology.

“New Brunswick has what the world needs, and we have a responsibility to develop those resources the right way – with strong environmental standards, meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities, and good-paying jobs for New Brunswickers,” said Holt.

The strategy was included Monday at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s convention in Toronto.

“We have the minerals,” Holt said, listing several as part of why New Brunswick is a good place to mine today. “We have tungsten, we have molybdenum, we have indium, we have antimony, we have zinc, we have copper, we have manganese, we have gold, we have potash, we have uranium.”

Holt said these are minerals that are important to Canada and the world.

“You want to develop these minerals in New Brunswick because they are accessible ,” she said.

Holt said New Brunswick is a small province and the minerals aren’t on an ice road hundreds of kilometres away.

“Our minerals are in our backyard and by our backyard I mean to say we have 40,000 kilometres of forested road already build through our beautiful province,” she said. “We have rail connection. We have two deep water ports.

“You can get your resource out of the ground, into the port, place for processing and your employees don’t have to live in a camp. They can live in a community where they can engage with their neighbors.”

Natural Resources Minister John Herron said the world is at an important moment as the demand for critical moments skyrocketing.

“Here in New Brunswick, we have what it takes to meet that demand,” Herron said. “With our rich geology, the time has come for us to regain our status as a national and global leader in sustainable mineral exploration and development.”

In addition to the new strategy, the government announced plans to modernize the Mining Act during the coming legislative session, ensuring the regulatory regime is “the most agile, predictable and timely in Canada.”

The federal government is ready to step in and assist New Brunswick in its efforts.

Federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said the province’s renewed focus on critical minerals has come at the right moment.

“Around the world, demand for the minerals that power clean technologies, advanced manufacturing and modern defence systems is accelerating, and New Brunswickers and Canadians are ready to meet that demand with world-class, sustainably produced minerals,” Hodgson said in a press release.