Mi’kmaw chiefs oppose lifting of fracking ban in Nova Scotia

Thirteen Mi'kmaw chiefs wrote a letter in opposition to fuel drilling in Nova Scotia.

Mi’kmaw chiefs in Nova Scotia are opposing Nova Scotia’s move to lift its decades-long ban on uranium mining and its longstanding moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.

The province’s 13 Mi’kmaw chiefs have sent a letter to Premier Tim Houston, reaffirming their opposition to onshore fossil fuel drilling, just days after the government passed legislation to reverse the bans.

Membertou First Nation Chief Terry Paul says the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs’ stance hasn’t changed in the 14 years since the province paused fracking – or hydraulic fracturing as it’s also known – saying it’s not worth the environmental risk.

“Our concern stemmed from the environment and it should be everybody’s concern,” said Paul. “And I’ll say we’re not against (resource) development but we need to be consulted with in a proper way. Although we’ve been told that there is technology that makes hydraulic fracking much safer, well, then, let’s see that, let’s see that technology. Let’s see the proof.”

Paul says the Mi’kmaw chiefs’ concerns haven’t been addressed, nor were they consulted before the legislation was passed and the ban lifted.

“Although Nova Scotia has publicly said they are open to having conversations with stake holders, they are forgetting to have conversations with Nova Scotia’s stake owners – the Mi’kmaq,” said Paul.

Houston has signalled his government is going all-in on resource development and critical mineral extraction, saying Nova Scotia has to become more self-reliant when it comes to meeting energy and needs, especially amid trade tensions with the U.S., which currently controls all of Nova Scotia’s natural gas supply.

“The reality is that Canada has suddenly found itself in a trade war with the United States,” said Houston in a statement. “This is not only uncomfortable, but it is dangerous because the U.S. controls 100 percent of the flow of natural gas to Nova Scotia.”

Houston says 18 per cent of the province’s energy needs come from natural gas and argues the province has enough natural gas reserves to meet its energy needs for 200 years.

Houston says drilling technology is safer than it was in 2014, when the province first prohibited hydraulic fracturing, and promised extensive consultation and environmental protections would be in place if any future projects were to go ahead.

“Anyone who suggests that natural gas development looks the same today as it did 10 to 20 years ago is wrong,” said Houston. “We remain committed to safe and responsible resource development in Nova Scotia.”

While Houston promises extensive consultation on future projects, no meeting is currently scheduled with the Mi’kmaw chiefs.

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