New Brunswick’s Sisson Mine added to Carney’s list of nation-building projects

A New Brunswick mine is now a priority for the federal government.

There’s tepid reaction trickling in as residents and organizations in the communities near the Sisson Mine site learn more about the future of the project.

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Thursday the mine is on his expanding list of nation-building projects.

“The Sisson mine in New Brunswick will produce tungsten, the strongest metal in the world, and will position Canada as a reliable supplier for steel manufacturing, defense and protective equipment,” he said.

The company behind the proposed tungsten mine, Northcliff Resources, made 66 drill holes during a feasibility study in 2010-11, and have taken several steps forward in the mine’s development since then.

But the project stalled about eight years ago – despite receiving both federal and provincial environmental impact assessment approvals.

Premier Susan Holt said she pushed “hard” for this to happen.

“New Brunswick’s is on the list and that’s a testament to the efforts our team has made,” she said.

The project still has to meet several conditions set by the province, and documents on the company’s website say it has asked for an extension to meet those conditions. The current deadline is next month.

David Sweeney, mayor of the Nashwaak Rural Community where the mine is located, said council is gathering information and trying to review it all before making an official comment.

“Protection of the Nashwaak and Tay River valleys remains our top priority,” he said in an email.

The New Brunswick government signed an accommodation agreement with the six Wolastoqey First Nations in 2017, which means those six nations will see a share of provincial revenues made from the mine.

On Thursday, a spokesperson from the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick said the chiefs “insist that all proper processes will be followed and the conditions upon which the mine was established will be maintained.”

“The Chiefs will continue conversations with federal and provincial counterparts to gather more information about what this means and to ensure that Wolastoqey Rights are respected,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Northcliff Resources aim, according to its website, is that the project can enter the construction phase in mid-2027, and begin operations at the end of 2029.

There is a new feasibility study underway for the mine. The 2013 estimates stated that the project would cost about $500 million, and hire 300 permanent employees over 27 years – even more during the construction phase.

Andrew Ing, CEO of Northcliff, is hoping for updated estimates once the feasibility study is complete, likely in spring 2026.

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