A delegation representing 27 community groups, organizations and unions publically presented the attached letter to SWN Resources in Moncton on April 30, 2013. It was also sent to all other companies conducting shale gas exploration in New Brunswick. The letter points out that the companies do not have a social license to operate in the province, and advises them to halt their exploration activities.
Since the time of the presentation, two additional groups have signed the letter: Friends of Tantramar Marsh and the Elsipogtog Band Council.
Moncton, April 30 2013
To shale oil and gas companies and supporting operators in New Brunswick1:
We are a group of 27 associations, organizations and unions representing tens of thousands of New Brunswickers, urban and rural; Anglophone, Francophone and Aboriginal.
We are writing today to advise you that you are operating in New Brunswick without a social license. Furthermore, for those companies whose license was renewed after November 2012, we consider your current exploration license invalid.
We are writing today to advise you that you are operating in New Brunswick without a social license
In winter 2011, petitions to ban shale gas exploration and production totaling nearly 20,000 signatures were delivered to the New Brunswick Legislature. On November 27, 2012, groups representing a wide cross-section of both rural and urban New Brunswickers rallied in front of the Legislature and demanded our government to immediately stop ongoing shale gas exploration, the granting of any new licenses, and the renewal of existing ones. These demands were restated in an open letter to Energy and Mines Minister Craig Leonard delivered on February 28 2013, which was signed by organizations representing more than 50,000 New Brunswickers.
Most New Brunswickers do not want exploration and further development of shale hydrocarbons
As evidenced by the results of several polls, and as indicated by continued public protests and the increasing number of municipalities that have passed bans on fracking, most New Brunswickers do not want exploration and further development of shale hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the current provincial government has neither a mandate nor the consent of the aboriginal and non-aboriginal people of New Brunswick to allow hydrocarbon extraction in our shale formations.
The government has neither a mandate nor the consent of the Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people of New Brunswick to allow hydrocarbon extraction in our shale formations
If your license was renewed after our petition of November 2012, and since the renewal was only made possible by a questionable amendment to our Oil and Gas Act, please note that we do not accept as valid your current exploration license, and neither will a democratic government, formed after the provincial elections next year, grant its conversion to a lease.
We urge you to reconsider your plans and stop any further exploration and drilling in this province until proper public consultation has taken place
We, the people of New Brunswick, do not want to become a sacrifice zone for extreme energy extraction. We have come to realize, through scientific and economic studies, that mining for shale gas and oil is detrimental to human prosperity here and anywhere in the world. As a matter of fact, several leading organizations (e.g. International Energy Agency, World Bank) have warned that we must keep unconventional fossil fuels in the ground to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Given all the above, we urge you to reconsider your plans and stop any further exploration and drilling in this province until proper public consultation has taken place.
Sincerely concerned about health, water, and climate change,
27 organizations, associations and unions of NB
1. Including, but not necessarily limited to: SWN Resources Canada, Corridor Resources Inc., Contact Exploration Inc., Windsor Energy Inc., and Geokinetics Exploration Inc.
Canadian Union of Public Employees New Brunswick (CUPE NB)
CCNB Action
Citizens Coalition for Clean Air
Cornhill and Area Residents Association
Council of Canadians – Saint John Chapter
Council of Canadians – Fredericton Chapter
Darlings Island Fracking Intervention Naguwigewauk
ecoFredericton Sustainable Living Inc.
Fredericton & District Labour Council
Friends of Mount Carleton
Hampton Water First
Maliseet Grand Council
Memramcook Action
New Brunswickers Against Fracking
New Brunswick Senior Citizens Federation
National Farmers Union New Brunswick (NFU NB)
Notre Environnement, Notre Choix
Parents Against Everyday Poisons
Penniac Anti-Shale Gas Organization
Sierra Club Atlantic
Sikniktuk Mi'kmaq Rights Coalition
Stanley Area Action Group
Sustainable Energy Group
Tantramar Alliance Against Hydrofracking
Upper Miramichi Stewardship Alliance
Upriver Environment Watch
Water and Environmental Protection for Albert County
