IMPORTANT: Please E-mail Your MLA To Release Dr. Cleary's Health Study On Shale Gas

It has been learned that the NB Chief Medical Officer's health report on shale gas has been ready for about a week. The government appears to be delaying its release.

Please find below the draft text of an e-mail YOU can send to your MLA!

MLA email addresses at this link: http://www1.gnb.ca/legis/bios1/index-e.asp

Members of the 57th Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick 

(listed by riding in numerical order and e-mail address)

Please forward wide and far to your friends.

Thank you for your action!

Contacts

Mark D'Arcy Email markandcaroline@gmail.com 

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E-MAIL ADDRESSES OF YOUR MLA CAN BE FOUND HERE:

http://www1.gnb.ca/legis/bios1/index-e.asp

Members of the 57th Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick

(listed by riding in numerical order + e-mail address)

Dear _______________, MLA

RE:  An Open Letter to MLAs for the Immediate Release of the Complete Health Study on Shale Gas Sector

I just learned that the Health Study on Shale Gas has been completed by Dr. Eilish Cleary, the chief medical officer of health in New Brunswick.  It is my understanding that Dr. Cleary submitted her report to the Alward government about one week ago, and that the report was scheduled to be released in September 2012.

The health implications of introducing shale gas development in this province is one of the most important issues facing New Brunswickers today.  I respectfully request the following:

1.  The Alward government should take care to release the report immediately and to neither delay nor censor it.

2.  The MLAs hold meaningful public consultation on whether to allow or disallow shale gas development in New Brunswick. This consultation should start with legislative hearings, and later include public meetings on the government's final recommendations.

It will be very troubling to our democracy if either of these two steps is not forthcoming.

All discussion and decisions on shale gas regulations are premature.  

It is my understanding that the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eilish Cleary, has developed recommendations on the shale gas industry "at preventing or mitigating potential adverse public health effects associated with the industry".

In the CBC interview with Dr. Cleary (see reference below), she explained that the health study would document how the industry could impact human health, how to mitigate or prevent the risks, as well as how to measure the actual impact of the industry on the health of New Brunswickers if the shale gas industry was to proceed in this province.

Dr. Cleary said she would make recommendations in each of the following 4 areas: (1) Physical risks; (2) Risks to the community and mental health; (3) Risks from exposure to environmental sources; and (4) Risks to the long-term health of the population.

Furthermore, the public has not yet been consulted on whether or not the province should move forward with shale gas exploration and fracking. Dr. Louis LaPierre publicly admitted, at the shale gas regulations meeting in Norton, NB on July 04, 2012, that the mandate given to him by your government did not include the ability to recommend a moratorium or ban on shale gas development. 

Lastly, during a speech delivered in Moncton last October, Premier David Alward advised that Members of the Legislative Assembly would be organizing town hall and information meetings later that month “to hear directly from their constituents on this important issue."

We have a right to know and to be properly consulted. 

I look forward to an honest and open discussion of all the health, environmental, and economic implications of shale gas development in New Brunswick. 

Sincerely yours,

[YOUR NAME OR ORGANIZATION HERE]

Minister Responsible for Citizen Engagement

Province of New Brunswick

E-mail: david.alward@gnb.ca

References:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/05/21/nb-shale-gas-health-study-445.html

Health study may examine impact of shale gas sector

Chief medical officer will issue recommendations in the summer - CBC News May 22, 2012

Premier David Alward, October 3, 2011 - Speech to Moncton Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Greater Moncton

The New Brunswick Lung Association is looking for citizen scientists to join an ongoing air quality project. Participants will be asked to install a small air quality monitor on the outside of their homes and will need an outdoor outlet and a strong WiFi connection. There will be several short surveys sent to our citizen scientists to help collect data, especially during the wildfire season. We are looking for people in the following areas: North-Western NB (Zone 4), the Boiestown/Doaktown area, and along the Maine/NB border in Zone 3. Contact alyse.wilton@nb.lung.ca for more information.

Shale gas development is being discussed by a multitude of folks: neighbours, politicians, youth, health care providers, farmers, and investors. Yet, I find it surprising that there is very limited discussion in the media about the fact that groups and citizens continue to take precious time out of their lives to go directly to the legislature doors to express their concerns. There have been two years of active public outcry by citizens and groups working to ensure that the shale gas conversation is not cut short.

New Brunswick is full of tenacious people who will continue to publicly share their concerns at the NB legislature steps until true dialogue and active citizen-engaged decision-making occurs. Both sides of the shale gas debate deserve the chance to not only discuss concerns, but share their fears and ideas of a vibrant New Brunswick.

Citizens and groups are engaged and invest their time into because they love this place. These people are also a resource that needs to be tapped as a way to help propel NB into the future.

Check out some of the online media:

-        Facebook images of NB Legislature opening

-        N.B. to weigh in on shale gas development, Halifax Herald

-        NB premier promises to deliver shale gas blueprint, CTV news

-        CBC News report

-         Toward a Green Power Grid & Financing a Green Power Grid, Woodstock Sustainable Energy Group