Premier Brian Gallant has asked the Commission to study the issue of hydraulic fracturing in New Brunswick to determine whether the following five conditions can be met:
- The social license to proceed;
- Clear and credible information about the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on public health, the environment and water, allowing the government to develop a country-leading regulatory regime with sufficient enforcement capabilities;
- A plan in place that mitigates the impacts on public infrastructure and that addresses issues such as waste water disposal;
- A process in place to respect the duty of the provincial government to consult with First Nations; and,
- A mechanism in place to ensure that benefits are maximized for New Brunswickers, including the development of a proper royalty structure.
The Commission had until March 31, 2016 to complete its work.
