Industrial Impunity in Nova Scotia

Donkin Mine Safety?

Serious Safety Questions

• Investigation: Past safety violations loom large over reopening of Canadian coal mine

• Fresh questions about reboot of an underground Cape Breton coal mine

• New Donkin Mine owner has poor safety and environmental record

• Safety record of Donkin Mine operator causes concerns

• US owner of Donkin mine faces troubled future

• Official linked to U.S. mine disaster resigns from Cape Breton’s Donkin mine project

• Donkin mine executive quits after Nova Scotia voices safety concerns

• Cape Breton fishermen protest outside Donkin mine over coal barge plans

• Donkin coal trucks too big for Port Morien-area roads, residents say

Disaster Waiting to Happen

• Donkin Mine begins producing coal in Cape Breton

• Donkin coal mine racks up dozens of safety violations in first few months

• The Donkin mine is a disaster waiting to happen

• We will have another Westray

• Donkin Mine Violations: Failures of ‘Learning?’

• A Father’s Day Gift to the Donkin Mine

• Donkin mine: “It’s just a matter of time before somebody gets injured or killed”

Roof Falls

• Kameron Coalʼs concealment of six cave-ins at Donkin mine

• Donkin coal mine's operations suspended after roof collapse

• No surprise Donkin mine is subject to rock falls, experts say

• Nova Scotia’s Donkin coal mine suspends work after roof collapses

• Section of Donkin mine reopens after month-long safety closure

• Work resumes at Donkin coal mine after rock fall

• Stop-work order lifted after rockfall at Cape Breton's Donkin coal mine

• Second rockfall at Donkin coal mine this month halts production

• Donkin mine back in production after stop-work order partially lifted

• Cape Breton coal mine stops production after second roof fall in two weeks

• Weekend rockfall the 11th at Donkin Mine since 2017

• Donkin Mine suffers another rockfall, this one during a shift

• U.S. Mining Experts to Tour Donkin Mine as Concerns Mount Over Rockfalls

• Threat of closing Donkin mine best tool to urge roof safety, minister says

Company Fires Mine Workers for Speaking Out

• Glimpses of Westray – Donkin Mine company fires workers speaking out about safety

• Fresh questions about reboot of an underground Cape Breton coal mine

• From the Weasel Words Dept: Donkin ‘Makes Changes’ to Its Workforce

• 'Playing with fire': Former Donkin mine workers describe 'scary' safety practices

• Donkin coal mine lays off 49 people

Methane Fire

• 'That's all it takes, is one spark.' A year of safety violations at Donkin coal mine

• Methane ignites at Cape Breton coal mine

Dates of Rock and Gas Outbursts

• September 18, 2018: Rock fall
• October 1, 2018: Two massive rock falls
• December 18: Roof collapse
• December 28, 2018: Stop-work order (issued only in cases of imminent danger to workers).

All the cave-ins during 2018 were not reported - mining license was suspended.

• July 8, 2019: Rock fall, stop-work order issued.
• December 28, 2019: Rock fall, stop-work order issued.
• February 2, 2020: Rock fall, stop-work order was issued.
• February 13, 2020: Rock fall, stop-work order issued following a second rockfall in under two weeks.
• May 2020: Rock fall, mine closed in March.
• January 2022: Rock fall, mine has been closed for two years.

Reopening of the Donkin Coal Mine

• September 2022: Donkin Mine abandons area of rock falls.
• October: Donkin Mine reopens: coal production begins.
• November: Provincial Minister leaves public office and becomes Vice President of Donkin Coal Mine.
• December: Nova Scotia Environment grants renewal of industrial approval.