The ‘adults’ of resources development have entered the Nova Scotia legislature, according to Premier Tim Houston, who is also an advocate of reopening the Energy East pipeline from Alberta to the Maritimes.
That’s because the government of Nova Scotia is repealing a pair of decades-old bans on natural gas and uranium exploration as the province seeks to bolster its energy self-sufficiency in the face of sweeping tariffs from the United States.
In a bold move to position the province as an energy “leader in self-sufficiency and economic resilience,” Houston’s Progressive Conservative government on Tuesday introduced legislation to lift long-standing blanket bans on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and uranium exploration that had been in place for almost 60 years.
The omnibus bill, as part of Nova Scotia’s 2025-26 budget, aims to modernize five pieces of legislation, paving the way for safe resource development, job creation, and economic growth.
In recent weeks Houston has become a strong advocate for reviving the moribund Energy East pipeline from Alberta to the Maritimes
Houston criticized previous resource policies as “lazy,” arguing the province must develop its natural resources to withstand potential US tariffs and meet global demand for critical minerals.
"With the economic challenges we face right now as a country and as a province, it's time to pull every lever that we have. We're rich in resources, and we can develop them safely. It's time to have that discussion and move forward," Houston told reporters.
Nova Scotia currently imports all its natural gas from jurisdictions where fracking is permitted, a point highlighted by Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau.
“We have banned an activity here while encouraging that activity elsewhere,” he said.
"Having just a blanket ban — that's lazy policy,"Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston
While uranium mining and processing remain federally regulated, the province aims to conduct research to better understand the resource's potential in its energy mix and delineate potential mining sites.
Apart from Ontario, New Brunswick is the only other province with a functioning nuclear reactor.
Houston also noted that Canada is one of 31 countries committed to tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050, positioning uranium and other critical minerals as key tools in the fight against climate change.
However, the proposed changes have sparked concerns among environmental advocates who warn fracking could lead to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions and pose risks to the province's drinking water supply.
Similarly, environmentalists raised concerns about the environmental and health risks associated with uranium mining, despite advancements in extraction technologies. "There is no way this can be done sustainably or safely," argued Thomas Arnason McNeil, a senior energy coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax.
In response, Houston assured that any resource development would be subject to rigorous assessments. "As projects come forward, there will be extensive reviews and consultation. The process will be followed. Having just a blanket ban — that's lazy policy," he said.
The province estimates it has seven trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas potential, with full production potentially generating billions in royalties. Uranium exploration, meanwhile, could unlock new economic opportunities as global demand continues to rise.
"Both resources are being mined safely in other jurisdictions within Canada," Houston said. "It could be done safely here as well. It's time for us to be adults about that."