TORONTO – Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver says Nova Scotia could be missing out on an economic opportunity by banning high-volume hydraulic fracturing.
Oliver was responding today to a decision by the Nova Scotia government on Wednesday to indefinitely prohibit fracking for onshore shale gas.
He says fracking has been going on in several provinces for decades without any contamination of drinking water.
However, the Nova Scotia ban specifically applies to high-volume fracking, which requires far more water than conventional fracking and has been around for less than a decade.
The provincial government said Nova Scotians have been clear that they are not comfortable with high-volume fracking.
N.B. Premier criticizes decision
New Brunswick Premier David Alward also reacted to the decision. In a statement to Global News, Alward criticized Nova Scotia on their job losses, asking what economy the province wants to recreate.
“Nova Scotia Liberals, like New Brunswick Liberals, are just pandering to the naysayers and holding their region back,” Alward said. “Clearly it’s just a political announcement as there is no industry interest in Nova Scotia at this time. The report they’re responding to specifically did not call for this Legislation.”
With files from Global’s Laura Brown.
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