Higgs's revival of fracking ideas attacked by opposition, Indigenous leaders
CBC
Opposition leaders say it's unlikely that government had any meaningful consultations with Indigenous groups before announcing in Tuesday's throne speech that it would put shale gas development back on the table.
Liberal Leader Susan Holt said the government doesn't have a "track record" of consultations with Indigenous groups and she doesn't believe they've changed their ways.
"There doesn't exist a productive relationship between this government and this premier and Indigenous communities in New Brunswick, and there's no track record of consultation or engagement," Holt said Thursday in response to comments made in the throne speech.
"And so, considering this came out of the blue in a throne speech, I do not believe Indigenous communities were consulted."
In Tuesday's speech, the government said it would discuss shale gas development with Indigenous people and other stakeholders.
Premier Blaine Higgs then offered few ideas on how he would overcome the fierce opposition to shale gas development the province saw in 2013.
He said with the war in Ukraine, high energy prices and more focus on climate change, things have changed since then.
Green Party Leader David Coon also doesn't think government has spoken to Indigenous communities about fracking.
"Even if they have, what the premier seems intent on is simply being able to say, 'I've had a robust consultation with First Nations,' and then do what he wants."
"The power all rests in the premier's hands about what's going to happen. There's no independent mediation process."
Opposition Leader Rob McKee said the government's history on the issue would also suggest there was no consultation. He said the same thing happened in 2019, when the government approved a regulation to exempt the Sussex area from a provincewide moratorium on shale gas development.
Several Indigenous leaders condemned the decision at the time, saying it happened without any consultation.
Indigenous leaders responded in a joint statement Thursday, effectively ending the debate over whether they had been consulted — they were not.
It's "the same old song and dance from the Higgs government," said Chief Allan Polchies of Sitansisk First Nation.
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