Digging into Gold Mining

Across the world, mining is the largest source of contaminated solid waste into the environment [1]. North America is no exception. Mines poison the environment and its people with toxic waste and waste water, and permanently damage larger landscapes through mine tailings breaches. They generate significant disturbance for water, wildlife, and communities [2,3].

Mines tarnish economies and democracies too. One of the many colonial and capitalist system benefits for the mining industry is that governments often give preferential treatment to mining companies in the form of tax loopholes and cheap royalty rates, using government regulations, policies, and revenue to prop up the industry [4].

For years, advocates and local communities all over the world have been resisting the opening of new mines or calling for safer mining practices. Community members and local organizations are now turning their attention to a new form of mining in Nova Scotia/Mi’kmaki that has many of the classic negative impacts of mining. Here, the 21st-century gold rush has just begun.

In the fall of 2017, Atlantic Gold Corporation opened their Touquoy mine site, at the location of the (now obliterated) community of Moose River Gold Mines, approximately 60 kilometres northeast of downtown Halifax. This is Nova Scotia’s first open pit gold mine, and the first new gold mine since the last large gold rush ended in the province in the mid 1940's [5].

Only three years into commercial production, the company already had 35 charges laid against it for failing to comply with government regulations that protect the environment [6]. Despite these charges, Atlantic Gold (now called St. Barbara) is aggressively working towards opening three more open pit gold mines, called Beaver Dam, Fifteen Mile Stream, and Cochrane Hill. Atlantic Gold and other companies have declared their interest in mining for gold in other areas in Nova Scotia/Mi’kma'ki too.

Gold mining has proven to be extremely destructive within in Nova Scotia/Mi'kma'ki historically, and modern gold mining does not have a better track record. The waste from historic gold mines has destroyed vast areas of land and contaminated waterways. Taxpayers are still paying for the assessment and clean-up of toxic gold mining sites that were opened 150 years ago [7]. Through its violent acts of colonialism, the mining industry has contributed to the oppression of Indigenous communities. The legacy of gold mining in the province is not a glowing one… the future of gold mining in Nova Scotia/Mi’kma'ki needs to be reassessed!

Learn more about gold mining in Nova Scotia/Mi'kma'ki by following the links to the storymaps below...