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In January 2013, Don’t Frack PEI was formed to address the concerns of Prince Edward Islanders about the prospect of Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) coming to our Island.
Following our second meeting, the unanimous consensus was to press ahead with a number of initiatives to educate the public and our elected representatives about the numerous dangers of fracking. Fracking would damage our drinking water, our fisheries, our tourism industry, and the health of the most vulnerable in our society. Our 100% reliance on groundwater for drinking, along with our vertically fractured soft geology, when combined with the toxic carcinogens used for fracking, and the documented failure of gas well casings, would result in an unacceptable level of risk to the citizens of PEI.
Organizations and individuals across PEI joined us in our efforts to bring about a permanent ban on fracking, while encouraging the development of alternative energy sources and a reduction in energy use throughout the province.
With innumerable briefs, community meetings, workshops, meetings with politicians, rallies, movie and documentary showings, we travelled the Island from Tignish to Souris and kept up the pressure until, in December 2017, we achieved a permanent legislated ban in The Water Act. Both a ban on high capacity wells and a ban on fracking were the most commonly heard recommendations made during the public hearings on The Water Act.
Don’t Frack PEI is now committed to Wind, Water, Sun – Energy for the Long Run – but in the meantime we want to invite the many Islanders and Groups who have helped us achieve this Ban to a community celebration. We will celebrate with some brief comments and the music of Tony Reddin and Teresa Doyle – with her song “Let’s Ban the Foolin’ Frackin'”. All Islanders who supported a ban on fracking are invited to join us at Upstreet Craft Brewing , 41 Allen Street, Charlottetown, on Thursday May 10th from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm.
Contact : For more information Leo Cheverie at 902-940-5635
The Prince Edward Island Water Act, released today as a first reading in the legislature, includes a prohibition on hydraulic fracturing. We need time to study the exact implications of the legislation, which can be seen here: www.princeedwardisland.ca/wateract
One of the documents issued by the government today states that saying NO to hydraulic fracturing addresses a key public concern. Quite right!
Matt McCarville, steering committee member of Don’t Frack PEI, has an article in The Guardian (Charlottetown) re-stating the need for, and benefits of, transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The PEI Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Energy recommends “that P.E.I.’s new energy strategy include an overarching goal of transitioning to 100 per cent use of renewable wind, solar, and water power for all purposes by 2050 at the latest” and Matt urges the government to press forward as this is the only way we stand a chance of reaching the target set by the COP 21 Paris Agreement, which came into force in October. Read the story here: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/2017/2/24/matthew-mccarville–emissions-free-by-2050.html
The draft of the new PEI Water Act is due to be released any time soon. Don’t Frack PEI expects a ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to be included in the act due to the overwhelming number of groups and individuals who called for a ban during the consultations. A ban on fracking is called for by many groups in the Public Consultation Report http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/CLE_EAC_WARep.pdf. At the Environmental Forum before the election, the Premier stated that “a moratorium may come through the Water Act process”.
Don’t Frack PEI intends to see that a ban becomes part of the Act. In other news, MLA Brad Trivers will propose a Motion Calling For a Moratorium on Fracking in the Spring sitting of the legislature.
So fracking is going to be very much back in the spotlight this spring. Don’t Frack PEI has incurred some expenses to keep the website running, rent a mailbox, host meetings, pay presenters, and produce t-shirts, hats and literature. Unfortunately our donations haven’t kept up with the expenses, for instance a website and e-mail hosting bill of $289 has come out of the pockets of the committee. Please consider making a donation to help with these costs – and you can make it using PayPal or a Credit Card on our website – it’s perfectly secure. Just click the green button on the home page.
Thank you for your support on this important issue.
Don’t Frack PEI Steering Committee.
There surely can no longer be any doubt that hydraulic fracturing causes unacceptable damage to human and environmental health, to our plans to combat climate change, and to the social fabric of all communities in which it takes place. Here is a definitive database of damning reports on the effects of past and current fracking operations which should, in any sane world, be more than enough evidence to put a stop to this reckless and greed-driven rush to the bottom.
Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy has issued a Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating the Risks and Harms of Fracking, which can be found here: http://concernedhealthny.org/compendium
It is complimented by the incredible online, near-exhaustive database maintained by Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy of all the peer-reviewed science. It is fully searchable with many tools. It is up to date, whereas the Compendium is updated at periodic intervals. You can get it at: http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/site/view/1180
Don’t Frack PEI, Holland College Green Machine and Cinema Politica Charlottetown present the documentary “Nowhere Else to Go” on Tuesday, May 17th at 7 p.m., in Room 21W, next to MacKinnon Lecture Theatre at Holland College, (Kent St entrance) in Charlottetown.
‘Nowhere Else to Go’ documents the 2013 anti-shale gas protests near Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick. The film provides an in-depth look into the early days of the protest in July through the RCMP raid on the protest encampment near Rexton on October 17th. The film also highlights the context for the protest, including the troubled history of the relationship between First Nations people and the Canadian government, the provincial government’s handling of consultation in advance of shale gas exploration licensing and the support for First Nations protesters that developed amongst non-native anti-shale activists.
The film is a shorter version of a longer work in progress. See more at the filmmaker’s website: http://michaeljshade.com/
After the film (which lasts 35 minutes) Eliza Knockwood will lead a discussion and show some of the film she took when she was in Elsipogtog in 2013.
Everyone welcome! Admission by donation. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1570784099887100/
CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER
Don’t Frack PEI, Holland College Green Machine and Cinema Politica Charlottetown present the documentary “Nowhere Else to Go” on Tuesday, March 29th at 7 p.m., in Room 21W, next to MacKinnon Lecture Theatre at Holland College, (Kent St entrance) in Charlottetown.
‘Nowhere Else to Go’ documents the 2013 anti-shale gas protests near Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick. The film provides an in-depth look into the early days of the protest in July through the RCMP raid on the protest encampment near Rexton on October 17th. The film also highlights the context for the protest, including the troubled history of the relationship between First Nations people and the Canadian government, the provincial government’s handling of consultation in advance of shale gas exploration licensing and the support for First Nations protesters that developed amongst non-native anti-shale activists.
Everyone welcome! Admission by donation.
On Thursday November 5th, two members of Don’t Frack PEI presented to the Water Act committee of the Environmental Advisory Council. This committee is making recommendations to the Prince Edward Island government concerning the development of a Water Act. The presentation addressed a number of statements in the Water Act White Paper, showing how allowing fracking would contradict the aims of the Water Act in numerous places. Here is the presentation: http://dontfrackpei.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Prince-Edward-Island-Water-Act-Fracking.pdf
Eliza Knockwood and Andrew Lush of Don’t Frack PEI will be making a presentation to one of the public Water Act Consultation meetings. The meeting is at the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown, on Thursday November 5th, starting at 7pm. We are second on the list of presenters. The other presenters are Yefang Jiang, federal hydrologist, and two watershed groups. There is a public Q&A session at the end of the meeting, where you can make a statement or ask a question to the panel – which is made up of members of the Environmental Advisory Council.
As the PEI government has not yet placed a moratorium on fracking, and as the Premier stated that fracking will be covered by the proposed Water Act, Don’t Frack PEI will be making a presentation at one of the upcoming Water Act Public Consultations. We will let everyone know when we will be presenting, but it would be great if people could go to one of the eight public consultations to ensure that concerns about fracking are raised at each session. Also, it is possible to make a submission via e-mail. More information about the public consultations can be found at http://www.gov.pe.ca/wateract
We have more T-shirts available, and some toques too. The T-shirts are $20 and range in size from small to 2XL. The hats are $12, are available in black or red, and say “Don’t Frack Our Water”. The hats were ordered by our late committee member Muriel, who passed away before we could pick them up. Please e-mail tshirt@dontfrackpei.com with your t-shirt size or hat colour so that we can make sure we have one in stock before you order it. We accept payment by cheque, credit card, or PayPal.
At the Party Leaders’ Forum on the Environment, we got to hear the positions of all four parties on fracking. This short video clip speaks for itself. The party leaders, in order of speaking, represent the Green, NDP, PC, and Liberal parties.
On April 21st, all four provincial party leaders will be asked questions on environmental issues at the Party Leaders’ Forum on the Environment. Don’t Frack PEI submitted a question, which has been accepted, and will be asked to all party leaders. The forum is on April 21st at 7pm at the MacKinnon Lecture Theater, Holland College. For a poster, click here.
Prince Edward Island has just lost a veteran campaigner for the environment. Muriel Siemers, who made her home in Stratford, passed away on Sunday. Muriel had recently brought her indomitable spirit and her wealth of knowledge to the task of educating Islanders about the dangers of fracking. Muriel, who was proud to have done her part to prevent uranium mining in Nova Scotia in the 1980s, was a shining example of an active senior in her later years, driving to meetings and even attending a public hearing on fracking last year in Nova Scotia. Her knowledge and wise guidance will be missed by many, including those of us on the committee of Don’t Frack PEI, and we will redouble our efforts in her name over the coming months.
Supporters of Don’t Frack PEI will be making a donation in Muriel’s memory to the QEH Foundation. If anyone would like to contribute to this, please click the green button and use the Donate button, and also send us an e-mail to indicate that you have made your donation in memory of Muriel.
Jim Emberger gave a hugely informative talk at the first AGM of Don’t Frack PEI. With facts and figures from the industry, government bodies, and scientists, Mr. Emberger comprehensively overturned the myths that fracking is safe, is good for job creation, and is a revenue generator. Extremely worrying health effects, no plan for the disposal of millions of gallons of waste, and massive damage to existing industries were part of his message, which was honed in New Brunswick during their recent and ongoing fight against fracking. The slideshow for the presentation can be found here: http://dontfrackpei.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Jim-Emberger-Presentation.pdf and the AGM minutes can be found here http://dontfrackpei.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015-AGM-Minutes-Dont-Frack-PEI.pdf
Jim Emberger, spokesperson for the New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance, will be giving a talk at the AGM of Don’t Frack PEI on Monday February 23rd. Jim gave 27 talks across New Brunswick in the spring, as part of the ‘Voice of the People Tour’, and his presentation provides the facts and exposes the myths about fracking. His talk, The Citizens’ Guide to Shale Gas, will open our AGM which will be held at Murphy’s Community Centre, 200 Richmond Street, Charlottetown, starting at 7pm. We will also have some musical entertainment, fracking news from PEI and other provinces, and coffee and cookies will be available.
Don’t Frack PEI is presenting an information session Monday, January 19th, from 7 pm to 9 pm at Souris Ski Lodge, Route 305, Souris. The session is open to all who have an interest in learning more about, and taking action around, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas. We will explore what has recently happened in other provinces, and the threat that fracking poses to PEI.
Souris & Area Branch of PEI Wildlife Federation is the host and chair of this event, and will be providing light refreshments. One speaker will explain how fracking differs from other forms of oil & gas extraction, and will detail the many negative impacts of fracking, and will explain how our four neighbouring provinces have come to enact fracking moratoriums. A second speaker will explore the concept of ‘social license’, and what can be done to counter the threat of fracking. Finally, we will explore the alternatives to oil and gas – Wind, Water, Sun, and Geothermal – outlining how these are valid alternatives, and that they are, in fact, essential for the future of our planet. For a poster, click here.
Our AGM, which was to be held on November 27th, has been postponed due to an illness. We will let you know as soon as we have rescheduled the meeting.
The first reading of the bill on the Nova Scotia fracking ban was tabled today, and here are the highlights:
No person shall engage in high-volume hydraulic fracturing in shale formations unless exempted by the regulations for the purpose of testing or research. Where the Minister reviews the prohibition, the Minister shall consider the net benefit to Nova Scotians, taking into account social issues; economic issues; health issues; environmental issues; scientific and technical issues; regulatory effectiveness and efficiency; and any other matter or thing that the Minister considers necessary or advisable.
The change of government in New Brunswick should lead to a moratorium. This leaves PEI as the only Atlantic province with no protection from the fracking industry.
Two of us from Don’t Frack PEI went to a public presentation and consultation in Amherst yesterday – me (Andrew Lush) and Muriel Siemers. It was one of a number of Q&A sessions being organized by the Nova Scotia Hydraulic Fracturing Review panel, more details at http://www.cbu.ca/hfstudy
There was a presentation, interspersed with questions and answers, and there were about 85 people there. The discussion was led by Dr. Wheeler, the chair of the review panel, and I commended him on the work that his panel has done so far – it appears to be well researched, non-political, and with good input from the public.
There was a sharp intake of breath from a number of people when Dr. Wheeler said that fracking in central NS could mean as many as 20,000 wells just in that region. Two other comments of his caught my attention – he was asked why we don’t know more about the risks, and his answer was something along the lines of “because the risks haven’t been studied”. On the positive side, he stated that he will recommend that the government gives control over mineral rights to local communities – which was a brave and necessary step to take.
What a contrast to what’s happening in New Brunswick. Dr. Wheeler said that he thinks the NS government wouldn’t allow fracking without the consent of local people, as the government doesn’t tend to steamroller plans through without consent – that is in sharp contrast to the way that the PEI government does things!