Fracking moratorium won't be bypassed by new bill
The provincial government says a bill it introduced today, aimed at keeping hydraulic fracturing to a minimum in the province, is not a back-door way for companies to get around the fracking moratorium.
When the bill becomes law, high-volume fracking won't be allowed unless it's for research or testing purposes.
The proposal allows for a lifting of the moratorium only after the energy minister has completed a review of the pros and cons.
"This legislation outlines the review process the minister must follow before bringing the removal of the moratorium to the legislature for consideration. It's a review that considers many important things such as social, economic, health, environmental, regulatory effectiveness, scientific and and technical aspects. All with a view to the potential net benefit to the province," Andrew Younger, energy minister, said Tuesday in the legislature.
However exemptions have one opposition party wondering if this is a true ban on fracking.
"My question is, are these new research and testing opportunities going to open the way for fracking in this province?" said NDP MLA Lenore Zann.
Younger said no. He said the law will replace the current administrative moratorium which can be changed on a whim.
"It is not about exploratory drilling. It is about research and testing," he said.
That's the way Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie sees it as well, which he said sends the wrong message to business.
"There is no company that is going to come here and drill, even in an exploratory way, while there is a ban on actual development of the resource,” he said.
Barbara Pike, CEO of the Maritimes Energy Association, agrees.
"And that does not send a good message to anyone who's looking invest in any project, any energy project in the province," she said.
Pike said it's clear the province isn't interested in allowing hydraulic fracturing, she said allowing testing and research won't be incentive enough to attract any business.
