There was zero interest in Nova Scotia's call for uranium exploration

Nova Scotia's whirlwind push to establish a uranium sector has yielded zero bids from companies interested in exploring for the critical mineral, a fact that left Premier Tim Houston unfazed Thursday and opponents of the industry relieved.

The Progressive Conservative government opened a request for proposals last month for exploration permits in three areas that the province says have uranium deposits. No one had come forward by the June 11 deadline.

"That's OK, we're going to move forward," Houston told reporters following a cabinet meeting.

Houston said his government's next move on uranium is not clear. It may consider doing aerial surveillance to better understand the resource, he said. 

The government lifted decades-old restrictions on uranium exploration and mining in March and moved quickly to add uranium to its list of priority critical minerals.

Houston said what's "crystal clear" is that Nova Scotia needs to grow its economy and, to that end, he wants to continue pushing for more resource development — be it uranium or something else.

"We have to do a better job of helping Nova Scotians understand that if you want a new rink, and you want a new community centre, and you want a new road and you want more doctors ... something has to pay for those," said Houston.

"In our country right now, Alberta is getting tired of paying for them, the West is getting tired of paying for them," he continued, referring to federal transfers known as equalization payments.

Over the past several months, there has been significant public pushback against Houston's new resource development push.

People have complained that it was unexpected and not part of last fall's election campaign platform, and that there has been insufficient consultation with the public and the Mi'kmaq. In response to the call for uranium exploration, several municipalities asked the province to slow down.

Houston said Thursday many people simply did not understand the process.

"Drills weren't going to turn tomorrow and people's wells poisoned," Houston said. "We actually care about this province. We care about the people."

Landowner relieved

Nicole Cadek said the lack of interest in uranium exploration licences is a relief.

Cadek owns about seven hectares of land in Hants County, about half of which was included in the Millet Brook exploration area. She was upset when she learned through a letter from the Natural Resources Department last month that the province was advertising some of her land for uranium exploration.

She's hoping the province will now change course.

"This lack of interest by mining companies, as well as the large public rejection of uranium mining, shows that the uranium mining ban should be put back in place," Cadek said in an email Thursday to CBC News.

The Mining Association of Nova Scotia has a different take on the former ban, which was implemented in 2009 after a long-standing moratorium.

"[The ban] sent a signal to the global mining industry that the province was closed for business and not committed to science-based decision making," the industry group said in a statement responding to the lack of bids. 

"It will take time and additional policy changes to undo that harm."

The mining association said the province is "on the right track," and now needs to streamline the permitting process for mining projects.

Opposition reacts

The opposition said the lack of bids on uranium licences begs questions about Houston's "agenda."

"Where is the urgency coming from when Nova Scotians didn't ask for this and there doesn't seem to be interest from industry?" said NDP MLA Lisa Lachance in a statement.

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said he was not surprised.

"Obviously, at this point right now, industry isn't looking at uranium in the province," he told reporters. "I think we need to engage with communities and take a pause."