The Nova Scotia government recently tabled several bills aimed at opening previously banned natural resource extraction activities, reducing public access to information about government decision making, and reducing the powers of the Auditor General, all without public consultation or link to its current mandate.
We are concerned that government is getting ready to sell the province to wealthy foreign industry empires by making it harder for Nova Scotians to participate in the democratic processes that inform natural resource management decision making.
Join Us As We Mount A Defense
We are mobilizing Nova Scotians into actions to protect our shared natural capital. Start by understanding the issues at hand then join us at an event or take action on your own.
Understand the Issues
Fracking is the process of injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and thickening agents into the ground to fracture rock formations, giving access to natural gas deposits. In 2014, the government of Nova Scotia imposed a moratorium on fracking following review of other jurisdictions and extensive consultations with the public and Indigenous communities. Fracking presents risks to water quality, public health, and to existing industries including natural resource based businesses.
Nova Scotia is (supposedly) committed to a transition away from fossil fuels and towards green energy operations that will reduce energy costs for the average Nova Scotian and help us meet carbon emission goals. Natural gas burns more cleanly and emits less carbon dioxide than coal, but the risk of methane leakage associated with fracking may cancel out the greenhouse gas budgeting benefit of transitioning away from coal.
Fracking for natural gas is banned either temporarily or permanently in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland, as well as many states and across entire nations. In Newfoundland, as in Nova Scotia, the particularly strong opposition to fracking came from small rural communities.
Reversing the ban on fracking will undo the decades of consultation that has already occurred and threatens Nova Scotia’s contribution to global climate change mitigation goals.
More on fracking in Atlantic Canada and how we can protect our communities:
- “Keeping the “Know” in Nova Scotia: The facts about fracking & the renewable energy transition in Nova Scotia” Ecology Action Centre, March 2025
- “The EAC’s Statement on the NS government’s decision to alter legislation on fracking and uranium mining”, Ecology Action Centre, Feb 19, 2025
- “A brief history of fracking in New Brunswick in the context of the provincial election”, Angela Giles, the Council of Canadians, October 4, 2024
- “New Brunswick physicians call for permanent ban on fracking due to unacceptable health risks”, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, May 9, 2024
- “Sample resolution: Pass a municipal resolution in your community against fracking”, Council of Canadians, Feb 26, 2025
- “Toward an Anti-Fracking Mobilization Toolkit: Ten practices from Western Newfoundland’s Campaign” Angela Carter and Leah Fusco, Dec 2017
- “Keep it in the ground: The impacts of fracking in Nova Scotia”, Ecology Action Centre, April 2014
Lithium is important mineral in the global movement towards cleaner technologies, especially in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Demand for lithium in recent years has surged and both the Government of Canada and the Province recognize lithium as a “critical mineral,” promoting mining as part of the green energy transition. The concentrations of Nova Scotian lithium deposits are low but mining lithium comes with a high environmental cost.
Like many other kinds of mining, lithium mining requires large amounts of water and energy and leaves behind polluted environments that need to be remediated. Nova Scotia’s lithium deposits are largely located in the Annapolis Valley, an important agricultural hotspot and home to a large proportion of our population.
The province generates revenue from mining through royalties paid by companies. As a result, mining does not contribute substantially to Nova Scotia’s GDP. Given how little and inaccessible Nova Scotia’s lithium stores are, it is not likely to be a productive industry, certainly not when compared with existing natural resource industries.
More on lithium mining and other supports from our friends:
- “Keeping the “Know” in Nova Scotia: The facts about lithium mining & battery recycling in Nova Scotia”, Ecology Action Centre, March 2025
- “Summary: Lithium Mining in Mexico – Public interest or transnational extractivism?” Mining Watch Canada, Feb 23, 2023
- “Impacts of Mining Activities on Water: A technical and legislative guide to support collective action”, Mining Watch Canada, Nov 21, 2023
- “Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy – A Response to the Department of Natural Resources Discussion Paper”, Mining Watch Canada, Sept 15, 2022
Before Nova Scotia legislated a ban on uranium mining, we had a moratorium on exploration instituted by a Conservative government. Previous exploration for uranium on public and private land angered Nova Scotians, especially in rural parts of the province, and a grassroots movement emerged to push for the ban. Several municipalities supported the provincial ban for concerns over the health of their communities and natural environment.
Other jurisdictions are moving away from nuclear as they transition to green energy options. Uranium mining uses a large amount of water, which is then contaminated and must be remediated. Tailings are radioactive for thousands of years after mining and must be stored carefully to avoid leaking radiation to the environment and communities. Uranium is typically mined in an open-pit operation similar to how gold is mined in Nova Scotia, having an extensive impact on the landscape it is situated in.
Given Nova Scotia’s experience with another unnecessary resource, gold, Nova Scotians are right to be nervous about opening the province up to uranium mining. During the 6 years the Touquoy open pit gold mine operated, the company broke 23 provincial and 3 federal laws that were in place to protect the environment and is now in a lawsuit with the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change attempting to avoid their required their mine remediation.
More on uranium mining and other supports from our friends:
- “Keeping the “Know” in Nova Scotia: The facts about uranium exploration & mining in Nova Scotia”, Ecology Action Centre, March 2025
- “Impacts of Mining Activities on Water: A technical and legislative guide to support collective action”, Mining Watch Canada, Nov 21, 2023
- “Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy – A Response to the Department of Natural Resources Discussion Paper”, Mining Watch Canada, Sept 15, 2022
Attack on Nature & Democracy, A Timeline:
What Can We Learn From Other Jurisdictions?
- Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick successfully pressured fracking company SWN to stop fracking on Mi’kmaq land following conflicts that prompted protest organizing in 2013. The people raised concerns about government’s failure to consult with them before allowing for fracking and, not being heard, organized action to defend treaty lands and pushing SWN out by that winter. New Brunswick would eventually introduce a moratorium on fracking.
- Protests and civil disobience prevented multiple gas companies from opening new fracking wells in the Saint Lawrence Valley in Quebec over 2010-2013. The movement brought together farmers, hunters, first nations, and others who would eventually block the Energy East crude oil pipeline and get Quebec to commit to banning future development, forever, making the province the first jurisdiction in the world to ban oil and gas extraction.
- France banned fracking in 2011 after significant public pressure. France later adopted law banning new fossil fuel exploitation projects and committed to closing current ones by 2040.
- Most of Germany’s natural gas came from domestic fracking operations until public pressure, criticism from many NGOs, and support of opposition parties resulted in a moratorium and then law banning fracking in 2016.
- Farmers and environmentalists organized in Ireland to get fracking banned onshore and within internal waters.
- Growing concerns about pollution and the occurrence of two small earthquakes in the mid 2000s culminated in the creation of fracking opposition group Frack Off and other protest movements in the United Kingdom. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have temporary or permanent moratoriums and, though government recently lifted a moratorium, in 2022, England sealed and abandoned its only two shale gas wells.
Take Action
Whatever your reason, share your concern for the health of our environment and rural communities with a window poster or lawn sign. Simply download the file and print in whatever format you wish!
More posters coming!
Find your MLA. Arrange for an in-person meeting if you can. Make it clear that you live in the riding, which dates and times you are requesting, and exactly what you wish to discuss. Be calm, be kind, but be clear and make sure they hear you. Be prepared for some politicians to try to take over the meeting or mislead you with inaccurate information, and be concise, as you will likely have only 30 minutes at most.
Your local council could be allies in the fight to protect human and environmental health. Talk to your councilor and ask for their help introducing a resolution or other local law to prevent fracking, lithium, or uranium exploration, or ban the industries altogether. Find examples from the Council of Canadians (fracking specific but a good starting place for lithium or uranium.)
Formal designation as a national, provincial, or other kind of protected area offers varying safeguards to public lands at risk of fracking, lithium, or uranium mining. It’s not foolproof, but it helps. Nova Scotia is committed to protecting 20% of public lands by 2030. Put pressure on government to deliver on this promise by contacting your MLA, signing a petition, or taking other actions.
The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs has criticized Premier Houston for not consulting with the Mi’kmaq in advance of revealing government’s new push for previously banned natural resource extraction industries. The Nova Scotia government, as a representative of the British crown, not only has a Constitutional duty to consult the Mi’kmaq on any activities that may impact Treaty rights, but according to the Peace and Friendship Treaties themselves must recognize Mi’kmaq title to all lands and waters in Nova Scotia. Though government has at times neglected its Treaty obligations, by law no decision can be made that could reasonably affect Mi’kmaq Treaty rights without first consulting with the Mi’kmaq.
Remind government of this fact by contacting your MLA and participating in Mi’kmaq-led action when invited. Can you go a step further? Contact the British crown’s representative in Nova Scotia, Lieutenant Governor Mike Savage, and express your personal commitment to our shared Treaty obligations.
Civil disobedience is a historic change-making tactic that employs direct and non-violent means of violating law. International human rights standards recognize civil disobedience, when non-violent, as an expression of rights to freedom of conscience, expression, and peaceful assembly.
Civil disobedience as advocacy against fracking or mining activity could look like:
- Sit-ins at MLA offices, Departmental offices, or the Premier’s office
- Occupying public or private lands slated for development
- Demonstrations in public spaces that draw attention to the issue and educate others
Participating in and coordinating a civil disobedience campaign requires an understanding of local laws, thoughtful consideration given to your goals and tactics, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Learn more about coordinating civil disobedience action from the experiences of Amnesty International.
Help Us Reach More Nova Scotians
We are not alone. As part of our response, Nature Nova Scotia is leaning on the lessons of other jurisdictions who fought and won these battles before us. Working together, fighting the division the provincial government has sewn, we can save Nova Scotia.
We’ll be organizing events soon where you can learn more about these issues, take group action, and take a stand for nature and democracy. Stay in the know by signing up for our e-newsletter, following us on social media, and checking back regularly. If you can, make a donation to support our work.