The last thing that the NB economy needs is another short-lived industry that rips out our natural resources, adds no value  and sends profits elsewhere for stockholders, while the province is left with cleaning up a devastated landscape.

With climate change shale gas extraction will become a dead-end industry. We are nearing the end of the age of fossil fuels; investment in them is decreasing around the world, and now trails investment in renewables. The threat of climate change means that the industry will continue to shrink, and long-term investments – like starting a new shale gas project – run a huge risk of ending up worthless.

In contrast, renewable energy has become ever cheaper as the technology improves and is now the cheapest energy in most of the world.  Some large economies in Europe and elsewhere already get a majority of their electricity from renewables.  Smart provinces will support businesses of the future.