XPost: can.politics, ab.politics, ont.politics   
   From: Panca@nyet.ca   
      
   Frank McKenna, ex-premier of NB, must be grinding his teeth as he meets with   
   other directors of Canadian Natural Resources Limited.   
   He's been front and centre promoting the 'Energy East' pipelines, since they're   
   mired in taking oil from Alberta to the west coast.  Liberals: 1,   
   Conservatives: 0   
   ___________________________________________________________   
     — CP — Dec 2 2014   
      
      
   New Brunswick to bring in fracking moratorium   
      
      
   FREDERICTON - The premier of New Brunswick says his government will introduce   
   legislation for a moratorium on fracking for shale gas during the fall   
   legislative session that begins Wednesday and he wants it passed by Christmas.   
      
   The Liberals, who won a majority government in the September election,   
   campaigned on a promise to bring in a moratorium, saying more information is   
   needed before allowing shale gas fracking to continue.   
      
   Premier Brian Gallant said his government will refuse to approve permits for   
   hydraulic fracturing if the legislation is not passed by the end of the year.   
      
   "I'm very optimistic we'll be able to pass these things before the holidays and   
   if not, we'll certainly come back as early as possible in the new year to   
   ensure that everything does get passed," Gallant said in an interview.   
      
   Bruce Fitch, the Opposition Progressive Conservative leader, said he is   
   reserving judgment until he sees the legislation but will oppose it if he   
   believes it will harm the energy sector and other industries.   
      
   "If they're going to put a moratorium in, we need to know what effect that's   
   going to have on business, on the environment, and on the health and welfare of   
   the people of the province of New Brunswick. That's a great debate and I'm   
   anxious to get into it," Fitch said.   
      
   "If we see the moratorium is shutting business down, we would prevent that from   
   happening because we think jobs and the economy here in the province of New   
   Brunswick are the No. 1 priority."   
      
   Nova Scotia, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have passed moratoriums on   
   fracking, though they vary in scope.   
      
   David Coon, leader of New Brunswick's Green party, welcomes news that the   
   moratorium will be introduced early in Gallant's mandate and said members will   
   have an opportunity to see how the legislation stacks up to moratoriums in   
   other provinces.   
      
   David Murrell, an economics professor at the University of New Brunswick, said   
   the government risks scaring off exploration companies by imposing a   
   moratorium.   
      
   "Government should not pick and choose their industries, and we're now in a   
   pick-and-choose mode," Murrell said. "You have to welcome what industries can   
   exist here."   
      
   The fall legislative session — the first for Gallant as premier — starts   
   Wednesday with a throne speech.   
      
   Gallant did not specify what the throne speech will address, though he said it   
   will address commitments the Liberals have made on job creation.   
      
   The government will also present a capital budget in this session, giving the   
   public their first look at how the government plans to spend a promised $900   
   million over six years on infrastructure projects.   
      
   Murrell said he's skeptical that spending on the construction of roads and   
   other infrastructure will have long-term economic benefits, as the Liberals   
   have suggested. He said it may only increase employment in the construction   
   sector while the projects are underway.   
      
   "I don't think the provincial government should be in the game of trying to   
   stimulate the economy in the short run," Murrell said.   
      
   Fitch said he's also concerned that the government could be increasing the debt   
   in its plan to pave their way to prosperity.   
      
   "If the government is going to go out and spend, spend, spend in order to try   
   to boost the economy, some of those short-term jobs are not the long-term   
   sustainability that could be available if we looked at our natural resource   
   development," he said.   
      
   The Tories have also suggested they may seek a vote in this session on abortion   
   access to find out where Liberal members stand on the issue, but Gallant says   
   the changes in regulation have been made by cabinet and don't require a vote.   
      
   Last week, Gallant announced that as of Jan. 1, women seeking abortions will no   
   longer have to get referrals from two doctors saying the procedure is medically   
   necessary. Other doctors will also be able to perform abortions though they   
   will still have to be done in hospitals as opposed to clinics.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)