• About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
Saturday, August 13, 2022
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home *Opinion*

Alward government has no public mandate to proceed with shale gas

by Jim Emberger
March 20, 2013
Reading Time: 3min read
shalegasrally
Over 1,000 people rallied against shale gas on NB Day, August 1st, 2011 in Fredericton. Photo by Tracy Glynn.

The government’s release of ‘rules’ for shale gas and its creation of an Energy Institute highlight its continuing exclusive reliance on in-house voices, while ignoring the public’s voice and those of contrary researchers.

Its actions and rhetoric imply that it has a mandate to proceed, and has a ‘social license’ from the public. In fact, it has neither.  Its deceptive campaign plank on ‘natural gas’ excluded the words ‘shale gas’ and  ‘hydraulic fracturing’.  We know the Conservatives are familiar with these words, as Premier Alward used them while eloquently arguing against shale gas as an opposition MLA.

Civic groups representing tens of thousands of citizens sent a letter to Minister Leonard stating that the question of ‘Should we have shale gas?’ has not been sufficiently debated, and thus actions in support of it are unwarranted. This, plus polling data, suggests that no ‘social license’ has been granted.

In a different attempt to justify its actions the government cites Dr. LaPierre’s report.  Dr. LaPierre is introduced as ‘emeritus professor of biology’, suggesting an aura of academic objectivity.  However, introducing him as ‘current board member of NB Power’ might be a more accurate indicator of his views on shale gas.  In a private meeting with Dr. LaPierre, he quoted extensively from a study “we had done at NB Power”.  Evidently, his views are largely based on that report, a fact not revealed to the general public.

During his ‘listening’ tour to gather public comments, he repeated (on the record) that he had no mandate to make recommendations.  Then he issued his own recommendations anyway, effectively diverting media coverage and the government’s ear away from the thoughtful voices and written submissions of the public.

Adding insult to deception, LaPierre called the public’s comments ‘anecdotal, not scientific’.  This self-serving excuse for producing his own report is demonstrably false, as he well knows.  Our group and others engaged LaPierre personally with arguments based on the latest peer-reviewed scientific studies. Our documents are part of the public record.

Our shale gas policy is being influenced by the personal opinions of a single person, who has demonstrated no particular expertise on the issue, and who represents vested interests.  For espousing government-approved conclusions, LaPierre was rewarded with the chairmanship of the very Energy Institute he recommended.  This appointment should not be viewed as fostering objective research, but rather as another example of the unethical patronage linking ruling parties and crown corporations.

LaPierre says the institute will ‘provide credible research … in support of shale gas exploration and production’, and be funded  ‘eventually by shale gas royalties’, indicating his bias that a shale industry is a foregone conclusion.

Also mixing business and government is Frank McKenna, who has become the cheerleader-in-chief for shale gas.  Known as NB’s former premier, he is also a board member of TD Bank, which includes TD Securities’ Global Energy & Power Group.  This group has been the top ranked Canadian energy Merger and Acquisitions advisor. Energy Mergers and Acquisitions are now the new profit centers within banks, earning huge transaction fees, whether the industry is failing or prospering.

Financial analyst Deborah Rogers just published a study entitled, “Shale and Wall Street”, wherein she establishes that banks have manipulated the finances of shale gas in the same manner in which they produced the ‘housing bubble,’ and with the same results: the shale bubble will burst, while the banks get rich.

So, the prominent voices that the government hears on shale gas policy represent Crown corporations and big banks, both with profit motives.  Perhaps, we might all listen to actual researchers with credentials.

Besides following the money trail of banks, Deborah Rogers tracked the economic performance for the 32 counties in the four major shale gas plays in the US, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2006 – 2010.  Of the 32 counties, 26 were below their state’s average for retail sales, and 30 were below their state’s average for median income.  Weekly wages in 29 were below the national average.  This is the industry that will rescue our communities?

An even more compelling study was just released by David Hughes, one of Canada’s most respected petroleum analysts.  He is the first to compile industry production figures from 63,000 individual shale wells.  A summary of his conclusions shows that industry has overestimated the amount of recoverable shale gas by as much as several hundred percent, and that shale wells deplete so quickly that thousands of new wells must be drilled each year just to maintain current production volumes.

These reports show that the shale industry will never fulfill the hype surrounding its longevity or its status as a ‘game-changer’.  Currently, shale prices remain far below the cost of production, and there is a glut on the market.  Many in the industry are hanging on by the skin of their teeth, with investments waning and uncertainties looming.

Does this seem a propitious time to move forward with this industry as a cornerstone of our economy?  Perhaps yes, but only if you are a banker or are listening to one.

ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

Let’s get real about energy security, local gas supply, and energy transition
New Brunswick

Let’s get real about energy security, local gas supply, and energy transition

August 10, 2022

Premier Blaine Higgs is pushing a private-sector company, Repsol, to convert its Saint John LNG (liquefied natural gas) import terminal...

Irving’s appointment to head of Postmedia board not welcome news, says prof
Media

Irving’s appointment to head of Postmedia board not welcome news, says prof

August 9, 2022

Reports that the Irvings had given up their New Brunswick newspaper empire have suddenly proven premature with the appointment of...

Wolastoqiyik women stop smallmouth bass poisoning in Miramichi Lake for now [updated]
Environment

Letter: Use of poison in Miramichi Lake and watershed a ‘tremendous waste of time and money’

August 9, 2022

As a regional biologist in Nova Scotia, starting in 1972, I was involved with several eradication programs that used a...

Decades of neoliberal governance have left disabled New Brunswickers in poverty and without social assistance
Economy

Decades of neoliberal governance have left disabled New Brunswickers in poverty and without social assistance

August 4, 2022

The Higgs government continues to sit atop hefty budget surpluses that have failed to reach those in need, including women,...

Load More

Recommended

Wolastoqiyik women stop smallmouth bass poisoning in Miramichi Lake for now [updated]

Letter: Use of poison in Miramichi Lake and watershed a ‘tremendous waste of time and money’

4 days ago
Let’s get real about energy security, local gas supply, and energy transition

Let’s get real about energy security, local gas supply, and energy transition

3 days ago
Irving’s appointment to head of Postmedia board not welcome news, says prof

Irving’s appointment to head of Postmedia board not welcome news, says prof

4 days ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In