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Notley: latest fracking incident exposes risk of Conservative ignorance
January 17, 2012
Alberta’s NDP Opposition environment critic Rachel Notley is calling on the provincial government to change course and start a full study of fracking safety following a well blow out in Alberta.
“Premier Redford and her Conservative government must immediately commit to an independent, transparent scientific review of the practice,” Notley says. “The expert group made responsible for the review should be made to include recommendations on the need for a full or partial moratorium in the course of their study of their study.”
On Thursday, January 12, ERCB was alerted that oil was spewing as high as 15 metres into the air and began to take action to shut down and clean up the site. ERCB says hydraulic fracturing may have caused the blowout. This raises serious concerns as hydraulic fracturing is a practice that is predicted to exponentially increase in the coming years.
“Only an independent investigation will break the secrecy surrounding the hydraulic fracturing practice and its proliferation. Government documents leaked last August show the Conservatives are working directly with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers to sell Albertans on the ‘commercial potential’ of hydraulic fracturing even as other jurisdictions are more responsibly taking the time to study its safety. It’s time for the Government of Alberta to remember who it represents-Albertans-not the oil and gas industry,” says Notley.
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Brian votes no to MLA severence hikes
Four years ago, after the August long weekend and while Edmonton hosts the world track and field championships, MLAs push through their own severance package. Three months pay for every year warming a seat. Only NDPer Brian Mason votes no.
Rick Bell, Calgary Sun
July 31, 2005