FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick government says a mineral development company is expanding its mining operations in the province’s northeast. The government says Canadian Copper Inc. has acquired the defunct Caribou Mine site through the receivership proceedings of previous owner Trevali Mining Ltd. The province on Tuesday said the company plans to use the site’s mill to process copper, zinc and other minerals that could be mined from the nearby Murray Brook mine site, which it already owns. Canadian Copper will also take over care and maintenance of the Caribou Mine, along with the associated costs, according to a news release from the provincial government. Officials said the project is expected to create 230 jobs during a construction phase expected to start in 2027 and 115 permanent positions. New Brunswick Natural Resources Minister John Herron said the Caribou Mine purchase is another sign the province’s once strong mineral sector is growing again. “It’s clearly a very tangible example of that, if you do the work, you can get results,” Herron said by phone, referencing his Liberal government’s new mining strategy. As part of its plan, Canadian Copper has submitted an environmental impact assessment proposing to redevelop an open pit mine at the Murray Brook site. The company says in a 387-page submission that it would extract minerals and haul them to the Caribou Mine mill for processing for an estimated mine life operation of 14 years. Herron said Canadian Copper’s expansion will add about $31 million to New Brunswick’s GDP. Tuesday’s announcement comes as New Brunswick aims to revive its mining sector amid renewed interest from industrialized countries in domestic supply chains. Zinc and copper are both among minerals Canada considers essential for clean technology, economic security and advanced manufacturing. Earlier this month, New Brunswick took a step toward restarting extraction of antimony, another critical mineral. The province said it selected Avenir Minerals, a subsidiary of Canadian firm Agnico Eagle Mines, to work on an agreement that would allow exploration of the former Lake George antimony mine site. Herron said he wants New Brunswick to be the “go-to jurisdiction” in Canada when it comes to extracting minerals crucial for Group of 7 nations. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2026. Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press
