N.S. to speed up metal mining approval process

The province wants to get metal mining projects approved faster.

They’ve announced changes, they say will improve the industrial process to make it quicker, clearer and more efficient.

It includes a phased approach to the application process while holding environmental safeguards, and streamlined plain-language forms and checklists.

Environment minister Timothy Halman says the mining industry is important to playing a role in supplying minerals in global demand.

Read more about the changes below:

NDP critical of new process

Meanwhile, the opposition are not happy with the new approval process.

NDP environment critic Lisa Lachance says the government needs to explain why they feel it’s okay to cut Nova Scotians out of decisions that impact communities.

She says it’s concerning that citizens are being asked to blindly trust industry in respecting the environment.

Lachance adds that people deserve more information on mining projects in their backyards, and keeping them in the dark is not the way to build our economy.