More Nova Scotians add their names to petition calling for return of uranium ban

The Nova Scotia legislature is shown in Halifax, on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan. AV/SDV Descrease article font size Increase article font size More than 10,000 people have now signed a petition asking the Nova Scotia government to reinstate a ban on uranium mining in the province. The opposition Liberals and NDP were planning to table more than 2,000 new signatures as politicians returned to the legislature. This is on top of more than 8,000 signatures already on record. Premier Tim Houston's government repealed the decades long ban in March 2025, but no new mining operation has started up in the meantime. Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories. Houston has said the element is mined safely in other places and that the province needs to develop its natural resources to improve its economy. Petition organizers say the new signatures were collected by community members, grassroots organizations and local businesses. Story continues below advertisement Dr. Catherine Cervin, with the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, said in a statement that uranium mining can release radioactive material into the water and air. 'The ban protected us because mining activities were required to cease if uranium was discovered at greater than 100 parts per million. We no longer have that protection,' Cervin said in a statement. 2:06 Mi'kmaw leaders in N.S. calling for more consultation in uranium mining projects © 2026 The Canadian Press The email you need for the day's top news stories from Canada and around the world.