Shale gas, jobs dominate Kent South race
Southeastern riding has been a hot spot for protests over hog farms, uranium mining and shale gas
The southeastern riding of Kent South may serve as a microcosm to better understand how the divisive debate over jobs and shale gas development is gripping the province.
Kent County was the centre of some of the violent anti-shale gas protests and blockades last year as SWN Resources Canada was attempting to carry out its testing phase to see if there was a viable industry in the area.
Unlike other areas of the province, where it is unlikely that a shale gas well would ever be spotted, voters in this region understand that if the industry is allowed to move forward, it is a possibility that shale gas wells could become a reality in Kent.
Despite the opposition, the region is hurting for jobs and voters are wondering whether the controversial mining practice may be worth it as a way to boost employment.
Progressive Conservative Claude Williams was first elected in 2001, shortly after the resignation of former Liberal premier Camille Thériault.
“On shale gas, I am doing door-to-door and every person I get the opportunity to meet, I bring up the subject, I don’t wait in case they are shy about asking me,” he said.
“People start to understand that shale gas is not as bad as what they have been seeing for the last four years. Most of the people, there was only one side to the story, people were seeing and hearing about what happened 30 or 40 years ago. As a government, we didn’t do our job right in providing the information to the public.”
Kent South’s boundaries look very different than the riding that Williams won in 2001, 2006 and 2010. But it does include some communities that have an interesting past when it comes to environmental issues.
Sainte-Marie-de-Kent was the site of a very contentious hog farm that was allowed to open in the late 1990s. Residents grew concerned about the smell and potential harmful effects to the local water supply, despite routine government tests.
The hog farm in the small community was eventually closed in 2006 after six years of government-funded tests, studies and help to deal with the smell.
Now, anti-shale gas signs are almost as common along routes, such as the 515 and the 535, as campaign signs.
Liberal Benoit Bourque said people have a very good reason to be uncertain about the development of the shale gas industry.
He said that’s why he believes a moratorium is needed until some of the questions about the industry can be answered.
“What I say is that if people find the position [on a moratorium] is not clear, it is because the information is not clear. The information is not clear in the sense — is it safe or is it not safe,” he said.
“You listen to one side and they say it is going to be fine, and the other side says it is going to be a catastrophe. So who do you believe?”
NDP candidate Paul Musgrave entered the race so he could discuss his opposition the shale gas industry.
“I would like the NDP to go further and say exactly how we are going to ensure the independence of the health agency that would make the decisions so that future governments can’t meddle,” Musgrave said.
“I would also like them to say exactly how they would compensate individuals who end up living near fracking sites.”
Along with Williams, Bourque and Musgrave, Tina Beers is running for the Green Party and Joël MacIntosh is the candidate for the People's Alliance of New Brunswick.
Citizens also divided on shale gas
In Bouctouche, several residents were torn about the possibility of moving forward with a shale gas industry.
Brian McGraw said the region’s sluggish economy is a prime concern, which is driving the debate over shale gas.
“I think one of the biggest issues is going to be the shale gas exploration,” he said.
“I think that has touched a lot of people in this community and people have various opinions on that.
Stephane Duplessis said he understands both sides of the shale gas debate in his area. He said he believes the shale gas industry could help the economy of the province, but he also understands the environmental consequences that could be faced by people in rural areas.
“The studies are pretty much biased towards more money,” he said.
“So people who have wells and whatnot, it would probably disrupt their water.”
Duplessis described the views of the three main political parties.
“The Conservatives are pretty pro-shale gas, it is definitive. The Liberals they say they are going to bring more work, but is it linked to shale gas? It hasn’t been confirmed yet, right? The NDP, they haven’t touched it either, not that I know of anyway.”
In Saint-Paul, Bernie Gaudet said the party that can demonstrate it is best positioned to create jobs will get his vote.
Gaudet said he believes people in Kent South are starting to realize that revenues from shale gas may be the only way for New Brunswick to dig itself out of debt.
“I think there is a lot of negative on TV about the accidents, but they have missed the benefits,” Gaudet said.
A CBC/Radio-Canada poll, which was conducted by Corporate Research Associates and released earlier in the campaign, found 49 per cent of people completely or mostly supported the exploration and development of shale gas compared to 44 per cent who said they mostly or completely opposed the industry.
It also indicated 81 per cent of respondents worried about the environmental impact of shale gas, even with regulations. However, 67 per cent said they completely or mostly agreed the shale gas industry would lead to long-term economic benefits for the province.
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