
Cape Breton's Donkin coal mine up for sale by U.S.-based owner
HALIFAX — An idle Cape Breton underground coal mine that has been plagued by rockfalls is reportedly up for sale.
Nova Scotia-based Morien Resources Corp. receives a royalty from the Donkin mine, and says the mine's owner has announced it intends to explore a sale of its 100 per cent ownership in the operation.
Attempts to reach mine owner Kameron Colliers ULC were unsuccessful.
Morien owns a production royalty on coal sales from the mine that is binding and will continue if there is a change in ownership.
The Nova Scotia company says it's unclear whether a successful sale will result in the mine restarting operations.
Nova Scotia's government suspended operations at the mine in 2023 after two roof rockfalls, and allowed them to resume in March 2024 following a review by a third-party consultant.
The mine, which remains idle, first opened in 2017 and was described by the province as the world's only operating subsea coal mine.
It resumed operations in September 2022 after it was shuttered in March 2020 amid slumping coal prices and roof collapses that led to repeated stop-work orders.
---
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘It's devastating': Spinrite in Listowel ends production on Friday
Yarn production at Spinrite in Listowel will end on Friday, bringing to close 112 years of yarn production in Listowel. (Source: Perth County) Deb Podhorny and Ana Davidson are heading into some of their final shifts at Spinrite in Listowel. The co-workers have more than 75 years combined working at the legacy yarn maker. 'It's devastating. I have known nothing but this place since I was 17 years old. It's my life,' said an emotional Podhorny, who worked at Spinrite for 49 years and six weeks. 072425 - Spinrite - Listowel - factory - closing Yarn production at Spinrite in Listowel ends on Friday, following a plant closure notice in May. 140 workers will lose their jobs. June 24, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) The production line at Spinrite will run for the last time on Friday, after the company announced the closure of their Listowel manufacturing plant in May. Spinrite opened in 1952 in Listowel, growing to be one of the largest makers of yarn in North America. 'Before that, it started in 1913 with Maitland Spinning Mills. So, it's a legacy business here in this area for 112 years. So, it's so sad to see it go,' said Melissa Verkley, a former Spinrite employee. Verkley, who appeared in a promotional video for Spinrite just a few years ago, was laid off in January. She'll now be joined by 140 other production line workers, many of whom are generational Spinrite employees. 072425 - Spinrite - Listowel - factory - closing Ana Davidson and Deb Podhorny have more than 75 years combined experience working at Spinrite in Listowel. That comes to an end on Friday, as the yarn production line closes. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'Spinrite has fed a lot of families. Both my mom and my sister worked here as well,' said Ana Davidson, who has more than 25 years on the job at Spinrite. 'We're all crying a lot. It's very emotional. Like Ana said, we're a family. We spent more time with the people inside there than you actually do with the people you live with in your house,' said Podhorny. A handful of Spinrite employees will be staying on for the next couple of weeks to tie up loose ends in production, said Davidson. But essentially, major production ends on Friday. 072425 - Spinrite - Listowel - factory - closing Yarn production at Spinrite in Listowel ends on Friday, following a plant closure notice in May. 140 workers will lose their jobs. June 24, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) Spinrite's retail location will close too, but the Listowel distribution centre will remain open keeping a few people employed, but a far cry from Spinrite's peak employment in Listowel of more than 300. 'It was comforting. I knew my job, and I knew it well. And I'm going to miss that. Now, I have to start over,' said Davidson. 'A lot of us that were laid off earlier this year are still looking for work. And it's a small town, so there's a few opportunities, but not many,' said Verkley. 'I just thought Spinrite would be here forever and it's not going to be. It's not how I pictured my retirement,' said Podhorny.


CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
‘Canadians expect us to take the time necessary' to reach a U.S. trade deal: LeBlanc
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., said Canada will only accept a deal when there is one in the best interest of workers and the Canadian economy on the table.


CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Real Estate Rundown: Avoid condo confusion
Ottawa Watch Taylor Bennett of Bennett Property Shop answers questions you need to ask yourself before buying or moving into a condo.