Premier Houston travels to Ontario to explore critical mineral opportunities

CITYnews halifax/ By Rachel Morgan

Premier Tim Houston is making his way to Toronto Sunday to attend Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference where his primary focus will be on exploring critical mineral opportunities for Nova Scotia.

Canada has been ramping up its mining and refining of critical minerals since 2022 as it seeks to advance its own economy while relying less on economic powerhouses like China.

According to the Government of Canada, spending on critical mineral exploration in Canada rose four per cent year-over-year reaching $2.1 billion in 2024. The federal budget, released in November 2025, outlines a plan for a $2 billion “critical minerals sovereign fund” over five years for equity investments, loan guarantees and offtake agreements.

This fund would help to see to completion the nearly 140 mining projects that are planned or proposed across the country up to 2034. The Government of Canada says these projects represent a combined value of $117.1 billion, and just half of the projects will extract critical minerals worth $72.4 in potential investment.

While exploration and mining didn’t get much attention during the 2024 Nova Scotia provincial election campaign, in the year since Houston won his second mandate it has quickly become a top priority.

During his second term in office, Houston’s Tories have lifted a moratorium on fracking and a ban on uranium mining, and opened calls for offshore oil and gas exploration bids.

Last summer, the Goldboro gold mine in Guysborough County received industrial approval and a Crown land lease, expecting to create more than 700 jobs, the province said. This will contribute to the $35 to $50 million that mineral exploration brings to Nova Scotia communities every year.

“Critical minerals are something the world needs – for clean energy, food production, defence, healthcare and much more,” Premier Houston said in a press release. He said the international mining conference will connect developers and investors directly with decision makers in Nova Scotia to discuss further opportunities.

“I look forward to continuing discussions about how our province can provide solutions and be a reliable, ethical, sustainable source for materials that are in high demand globally.”

Houston is scheduled to make separate announcements with federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. He will also meet with Tjorven Bellmann, the German Ambassador to Canada, to discuss economic co-operation.