BC’s Independent Members of Legislative Assembly call on Premier to Investigate Use of Hydraulic Fracturing

British Columbia's two Independent Members of the Legislative Assembly are calling on Premier Clark (Letter attached) to publicly investigate the development of the province's unconventional gas basins and the use of hydraulic fracturing to access this resource.

"Public policies are driving the rapid expansion of BC's unconventional gas sector, particularly in shale formations in the Peace Region," said Vicki Huntington, the Independent MLA for Delta South, "It is incumbent on the government to ensure it fully understands the cumulative impacts associated with developing this resource."

With a depressed natural gas market, BC is increasingly being pushed to offer more incentives to the industry in order to develop these resources.  Huntington and Simpson are urging the government to fully examine the economic, environmental and health and safety implications before further expansion is encouraged.

"The rapid expansion of this industry, and the potential for it to continue to expand with the aid of incremental government assistance, has led to serious public policy questions being raised by more and more individuals and organizations," said Bob Simpson, the Independent MLA for Cariboo North.

The two MLAs noted a range of public concerns including:

• Economists asking if we are developing gas resources at the wrong time in the market cycle
• Peace residents and the Northern Health Authority calling for a public inquiry into the health and safety implications of oil and gas development
• The amount of fresh water used in hydraulic fracturing operations and the disposal of the large amounts of toxic wastewater subsequently produced.
• The significant additional carbon emissions associated with the industry.
• Failure to address First Nations rights and title issues  
• Other jurisdictions such as Quebec and New York State taking a more precautionary approach to unconventional gas developments, while BC developments continue and cumulative impacts on the environment, public health and safety, water utilization, and seismic activity increase.

"We believe in light of numerous concerns expressed by the public that it is time for a thorough, non-partisan review to be conducted into the widespread application of hydraulic fracturing and the accelerated development of BC's unconventional gas resources, and that a Special Committee of the Legislature should be convened to conduct a comprehensive inquiry," the two MLAs say in a letter to the Premier.  

Numerous organizations, including First Nations, supported the MLAs request for a public investigation into unconventional gas development through the use of a Special Legislative Committee.

Supporting individuals and organizations:

Peace Environment and Safety Trustees Society (PESTS), Lois Hill
West Moberly First Nations, Chief Roland Willson 
Fort Nelson First Nation, Kathi Dickie, Chief Councillor
Rick Koechl, Old Hope Road Residents Group  
Terry Webster, concerned citizen (City Councillor, Hudsons Hope) 
Ken Forest, Peace River resident

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip 
David Suzuki Foundation, Ian Bruce
BC Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Ben Parfitt 
Pembina Institute, Matt Horne 
BC Tap Water Alliance, Will Koop 
Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Ben West
Wildsight, Casey Brennan 
ForestEthics, Karen Tam Wu
T.Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, Jennifer Rice

Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, Shannon McPhail  
SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, Greg Knox  
Taylor Bachrach, Municipal Councillor, Telkwa

Rafe Mair, Commonsense Canadian  
Andrew Nikiforuk, writer and journalist  
Roy Henry Vickers, C.M., O.B.C., DLitt.