Higgs pitches First Nations on up to $1.6B in revenue with possible shale gas expansion
CBC
Premier Blaine Higgs is pitching First Nations on hefty revenue potential if they agree to allow new shale gas development in New Brunswick.
But at least one Mi'kmaw chief is already standing in opposition to any new potential fracking because of environmental concerns and worries that it's being used as a political bargaining chip.
Higgs confirmed in an interview that his government sent all chiefs a letter this month outlining how they could potentially see between $800 million and $1.6 billion in revenue — shared among them over 20 years — if a shale gas reserve near Sussex is further developed.
"The potential opportunity for First Nations is an absolute game changer for every First Nations community in this province," Higgs said.
The move by the Higgs government signals the premier's latest efforts to reignite the industry after former premier Brian Gallant imposed a moratorium on fracking in 2014 following violent protests.
The process of fracking involves injecting a mixture of sand, chemicals and usually water into the ground under high pressure to break rock and capture natural gas that couldn't be obtained otherwise.
It has drawn opposition over fears it could endanger the groundwater supply and potentially have other harmful environmental effects.
The province's proposal wasn't well received by Chief Terry Richardson of Pabineau First Nation in northeastern New Brunswick, near Bathurst.
That's because it came as he, and other Mi'kmaw chiefs, are months away from seeing an end to tax-revenue-sharing agreements that brought millions to communities annually.
Higgs announced he was ending those agreements in 2021, sparking backlash from both Wolastoqey and Mi'kmaw leaders.
Now Richardson said he feels like Higgs is "holding this tax agreement hostage" as a way to get approval for fracking.
"I mean that's what he's basically doing, is saying 'Well, I took your tax agreement away, but here, look at all this money you can make by agreeing to fracking,'" Richardson said.
Richardson said he's mainly concerned about potential environmental impacts from fracking, adding he hasn't seen any new information to allay those concerns.
And even if he was on board with lifting the moratorium, he doesn't think it would go over well with his community members.
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