British Columbia’s two Independent MLAs are calling on Premier Clark (Letter attached) to publicly investigate the development of the province’s unconventional gas basins and the use of hydraulic fracturing to access this resource.

“Public policies are driving the rapid expansion of BC's unconventional gas sector, particularly in shale formations in the Peace Region,” said Vicki Huntington, the Independent MLA for Delta South, “It is incumbent on the government to ensure it fully understands the cumulative impacts associated with developing this resource.”

With a depressed natural gas market, BC is increasingly being pushed to offer more incentives to the industry in order to develop these resources. Huntington and Simpson are urging the government to fully examine the economic, environmental and health and safety implications before further expansion is encouraged.

"The rapid expansion of this industry, and the potential for it to continue to expand with the aid of incremental government assistance, has led to serious public policy questions being raised by more and more individuals and organizations,” said Bob Simpson, the Independent MLA for Cariboo North.

The two MLAs noted a range of public concerns including:

Economists asking if we are developing gas resources at the wrong time in the market cycle
Peace residents and the Northern Health Authority calling for a public inquiry into the health and safety implications of oil and gas development
The amount of fresh water used in hydraulic fracturing operations and the disposal of the large amounts of toxic wastewater subsequently produced.
The significant additional carbon emissions associated with the industry.
Failure to address First Nations rights and title issues
Other jurisdictions such as Quebec and New York State taking a more precautionary approach to unconventional gas developments, while BC developments continue and cumulative impacts on the environment, public health and safety, water utilization, and seismic activity increase.
“We believe in light of numerous concerns expressed by the public that it is time for a thorough, non-partisan review to be conducted into the widespread application of hydraulic fracturing and the accelerated development of BC’s unconventional gas resources, and that a Special Committee of the Legislature should be convened to conduct a comprehensive inquiry," the two MLAs say in a letter to the Premier.

Numerous organizations, including First Nations, supported the MLAs request for a public investigation into unconventional gas development through the use of a Special Legislative Committee.

Supporting individuals and organizations:

Peace Environment and Safety Trustees Society (PESTS), Lois Hill 250-843-7072

West Moberly First Nations, Chief Roland Willson 250-788-3663

Fort Nelson First Nation, Kathi Dickie, Chief Councillor 250-774-7257

Rick Koechl, Old Hope Road Residents Group 250-785-6717

Terry Webster, concerned citizen (City Councillor, Hudsons Hope) 250-783-5733

Ken Forest, Peace River resident 250-785-3094

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip 604-684-0231

David Suzuki Foundation, Ian Bruce 604-306-5095

BC Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Ben Parfitt 250-480-7079

Pembina Institute, Matt Horne 778-235-1476

BC Tap Water Alliance, Will Koop 604-224-4717

Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Ben West 604-710-5340

Wildsight, Casey Brennan 250-429-2603

ForestEthics, Karen Tam Wu 604-331-6201

T.Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, Jennifer Rice 250-624-4147

Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, Shannon McPhail 250-842-2494

SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, Greg Knox 250-638-0998

Taylor Bachrach, Municipal Councillor, Telkwa 250-847-9293

Rafe Mair, Commonsense Canadian 604-913-3655

Andrew Nikiforuk, writer and journalist 403-270-2995

Roy Henry Vickers, C.M., O.B.C., DLitt. 250-842-2333