February 16, 2012

FREDERICTON – Denis Landry, the Opposition critic of Natural Resources, is calling on the Alward government to release its Environmental Protection Plan before shale gas companies resume their work in the spring.

Landry wants to know what work the government has done since the last session to strengthen the rules and regulations that are currently in place for shale gas development. While the Alward government is promising to unveil its Environmental Protection Plan during the upcoming session, Landry is asking the government to tell New Brunswickers what has changed before shale gas activities resume in the spring.

“The government has been very quiet on this issue since the last legislative session,” said Landry, Liberal MLA for Centre-Péninsule-Saint-Sauveur. “We want to know what they have been working on, and what has been done so far to strengthen the regulations that are currently in place.

“This government was forced to admit that the current regulations aren’t as strong as they claimed they were,” continued Landry. “New Brunswickers have very legitimate concerns about shale gas development in our province. We continue to have concerns that our regulations are not strong enough to protect our environment.”

A series of incidents last year in which shale gas companies blatantly violated the regulations showed that New Brunswick is not prepared for shale gas development. With the news that SWN Resources will resume its work in a few weeks, Landry believes it is more important than ever to strengthen the current regulations, as well as to implement strict penalties for companies who do not abide by the rules.

“We know that at least one company, SWN Resources, will return in the spring to resume their work. This company has said it will ask permission before doing so,” said Landry. “However, will receiving permission be required? Will companies be penalized if they resume their work without permission? Will the government’s plan truly protect New Brunswickers, their environment and water sources?”

“We don’t know what the plan looks like, what the new regulations look like, or if they’ll even be strong enough to truly protect our environment,” continued Landry. “There are still too many unanswered questions to allow for shale gas development to proceed in New Brunswick.”

The Liberal party is calling for a moratorium on shale gas activity, as well as a special committee of the Legislative Assembly to hold public hearings and consult with New Brunswickers until such time as stronger regulations are in place to ensure the protection of our environment and water sources.

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Media Contact: Hillary Casey, Office of the Official Opposition, 506-453-2548, hillary.casey@gnb.ca