Council activists march in Moncton against fracking, September 2011.
The Council of Canadians Saint John chapter is a member of ‘Know Shale Gas NB’, which describes itself as, “New Brunswick citizens who want to protect our province and the people who live here from the detrimental effects of shale gas development that have occurred in other jurisdictions with extensive shale gas development using slickwater hydraulic fracturing.”
They state, “The government of New Brunswick has shown that they are not willing to consult the citizens of New Brunswick in a meaningful way about this issue. They are not willing to hold a referendum, participate in a formal, public debate, or hold a commission of inquiry with evidence provided by recognized experts for and against shale gas development. As a result, we have no choice but to pursue this matter before the courts. We plan to bring an application before the court against the provincial government in order to prevent the approval of any additional activity for shale gas development in the province.”
They are seeking to raise $500,000 – through $100 donations from 5,000 people – for their legal fund.
The Council of Canadians
Today, the Council of Canadians made a $100 donation to the legal fund. For you to do the same, please go to http://www.knowshalegasnb.ca/.
In August, September and November 2011, Council of Canadians chapters in New Brunswick marched in major protests against fracking in that province, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=10575, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=12085 and http://canadians.org/blog/?p=9922.
In December 2011, despite widespread public opposition, the government of Progressive Conservative premier David Alward rejected a moratorium on fracking in the province, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=12636. In February 2012, CBC reported, “Maude Barlow, chairwoman of the Council of Canadians, (prior to speaking at a public forum in Fredericton) cautioned against what she described as the New Brunswick government’s ‘love affair’ with fracking. Barlow said fracking is a threat to Canada’s water supply.” That’s at http://canadians.org/blog/?p=13641.
A poll commissioned by the Council of Canadians found that 66 percent of people in Atlantic Canada support a moratorium on all fracking for natural gas until all the federal environmental reviews are complete (expected by April 2013), http://canadians.org/media/water/2012/06-Feb-12-backgrounder.html.
To see the Council of Canadians campaign web-page on fracking, please see http://canadians.org/fracking.
