N.S. NDP calls for immediate pause on plans to lift mining, hydraulic fracturing bans

The Nova Scotia NDP is calling for a pause on a plan to lift bans on mining and hydraulic fracturing.

The Nova Scotia NDP is calling for an immediate pause on the government’s plans to lift long-standing provincial bans on uranium mining and onshore hydraulic fracturing – also known as fracking – until “meaningful consultation” can be had.

“For many Nova Scotians, it feels like this plan came out of nowhere and that’s because it did,” said NDP Leader Claudia Chender.

In 2009, the province introduced a bill to ban uranium exploration and mining, largely based on health and safety concerns, and protecting the environment.

In 2014 the Liberal government passed legislation banning onshore hydraulic fracturing for shale gas, but it was never officially proclaimed.

Premier Tim Houston’s government suggests that bill signalled to industry players Nova Scotia was closed for business

The government introduced a bill last month that would lift both bans to encourage natural resource development, which Houston called critical to spur the economy, create jobs and make Nova Scotia less reliant on foreign governments to meet its energy needs.

“For us in Nova Scotia, we are importing energy and if we can get it from another part of Canada, even better, but if we can develop it ourselves, even better,” said Houston during a media scrum on Friday.

Houston was in Toronto Monday to attend a mining convention and, he said, let the industry know they are open for business.

“We’re sincere about increasing economic activity here in this province and I thought it was important that they look the premier in the eye and hear him say that,” said Houston.

The NDP questions why Houston never mentioned any of his energy plans, like lifting long-standing bans, during the election campaign last November.

“There was no mention of removing these bans during the election campaign and there has been no public notice or consultation, just legislation,” said Chender.

Chender argues Houston should be more concerned about immediate challenges to the economy and industry, like the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods headed south.

“What we need to do is make sure our traditional industries and our existing businesses are able to withstand economic shock, and we have heard precious little about that,” said Chender.

Chender says the Houston government hasn’t made a strong case for why these bans should be lifted beyond the promise it will be good for the economy and help create more job opportunities.

“The economic viability of mining uranium and of fracking are unclear and we haven’t been presented with any comprehensive economic analysis or argument as to why this needs to go ahead in the way that it has been brought forward,” said Chender.

A group of physicians concerned for the environment says lifting the bans isn’t worth the public safety concerns.

“No economic benefit excuses damaging people’s health but even if you do want to make an economic calculation, there’s going to be an increased burden of cancer and other diseases and as it is our health system is under a lot of strain,” Dr. Laurette Geldenhuys, a trained physician, pathologist and member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.

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