Photo courtesy of Pure Gold Mining Inc.
Nova Scotia has launched a new digital tool designed to simplify and modernize the province’s mine permitting process.
The new NovaMINE portal is an online system that lets mining companies track the progress of permits, licences, and approvals in real time.
It’s being rolled out in phases, with the first allowing users to check the status of applications, while future updates will add online submission and payment functions.
Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton says the system marks “a modern way of doing business,” one that simplifies the process “without cutting any corners.” He says it will improve access to information and demonstrate that Nova Scotia is “open for responsible resource development.”
NovaMINE was developed internally by the province at a cost of about $60,000. Rushton said it’s part of a broader effort to make it easier to do business in Nova Scotia while maintaining environmental protections.
Industry response to the new system has been positive. Deidre Puddister, Vice-President of Sustainability with NexGold, said the portal sends a strong signal about the province’s competitiveness. “Permitting needs to be thorough and consistent, but not a mystery,” she said. “Timelines are critical when developing a project, and uncertainty kills investment.”
Puddister added that the new system gives companies “real-time access” to their applications, allowing them to check progress without needing to make repeated calls to departments. “This will allow proponents to understand where they are in the permitting process and communicate that to stakeholders and rights holders,” she said.
Officials say the tool was built in consultation with multiple departments, including Environment and Climate Change, and with input from industry users who helped test early versions.
The landing page for the newly launched NovaMINE portal which is taking mining permitting online. Photo: NS Government.
The system currently consolidates information from the province’s existing platforms, such as NovaROC, to give companies a single dashboard to view all their active files.
Rushton said the launch represents just the first step in a larger modernization plan. “We’re making it easier to do business so more Nova Scotians can prosper,” he said. “It’s about balancing opportunity with environmental responsibility.”
The Department of Natural Resources says the next phases of NovaMINE — expected to roll out later this year — will include online permitting, renewals, and payments.
NovaMINE can be accessed at mining.novascotia.ca.
