The issue of Hydraulic Fracturing (commonly known as fracking) has been a hotbed of activity for environmental activists, energy producers, and politicians over the past few years. The issue of the application of this natural gas capturing technology has resulted in passionate debate, sometimes bordering on the hysterical, regarding the use of the technology in Canada. Recently federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has weighed in on the issue of fracking in the province of New Brunswick and interestingly his comments were neither an endorsement nor a condemnation of the process. Trudeau, in his usual fashion, called for more study into the technology, however there is far from a lack of scientific data available to consult on the relative safety of the process.
Hydraulic fracturing is a process that uses drilling and the
application of high-pressure fluids (mostly water) in order to extract natural
gas deposits from shale beds deep underground.
Despite its recent popularity in the news the process has been is use
for over half a century and wells have been drilled in many areas around the
world. In fact the Royal Society in the United Kingdom has published an in depth report, based on decades of scientific
study and data from practical application of the technology, that states
hydraulic fracturing is a technology that can be safely applied with minimal
risk.
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| Burning RCMP vehicles at an anti-fracking protest in Rexton, New Brunswick |
When it comes to the popular anti-fracking movement, the
most often cited source of concern stems from the ‘documentary’ Gasland, which
is narrated by actor Matt Damon. The
sequence most commonly referenced is the portion of the film that shows one of
the individuals interviewed dramatically igniting the water from his faucet. What the film’s director, Josh Fox, failed
to include was the fact that the methane gas in the groundwater from which this
particular well was drawn had nothing to do with fracking. Additionally, Fox was confronted by
filmmaker Phelim McAleer at an event and was forced to admit that he left out details, supported by historical records, that locals have been able to ignite
natural occurring gas seepage from so called ‘burning springs’ long before the
practice of fracking was introduced to the area. Fox apparently believed that those details were unimportant to
reveal. Further information was
unearthed after the film’s release that the film was partially funded by a
company from the United Arab Emirates, a nation which has a very lucrative
natural gas industry and would face economic threats from a large scale
increase in international natural gas production. Regardless of these details and the questionable validity of many
of the film’s claims, it has been used as a tool to perpetuate the fear of fracking.
On Trudeau’s part, neither endorsing nor condemning the
process of fracking is a very politically convenient manoeuvre, as he does not
have to commit support to either side of the issue and risk alienating large
numbers of people on either side of the debate. And while politicians play politics New Brunswick languishes as
one of the poorest provinces in Canada with record unemployment coupled with a
declining population as a result of New Brunswickers leaving to seek better
opportunities (ironically usually in western Canada’s oil and gas industry.) New Brunswick needs viable and well paying
employment opportunities and the safe application of fracking technology
appears to be an option worth pursuing.
This should not be an issue of science versus the environment; it should
be one of proven science working with understanding environmental concerns and
with proper oversight for the benefit of Canadians.
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