May 12, 2023
Green Party Leader Tables Bills to Ban Fossil Fuel Exploration and Drilling
FREDERICTON – Green Party leader and MLA for Fredericton South David Coon tabled a bill in the Legislative Assembly this morning with the goal of ending any further fossil fuel development in New Brunswick.
“The International Energy Agency has made it clear: we cannot have any new fossil fuel infrastructure if we are going to meet net zero emissions goals by 2050,” said Coon. “The Premier still seems hellbent on creating a fracking industry in New Brunswick, so I’m proposing legislation to keep the gas in the ground.”
Coon’s bill proposes to ban exploration for natural gas and oil, drilling wells to produce natural gas and oil, and hydraulic fracturing. This would follow Quebec, which became the first jurisdiction in the world to ban oil and gas development on its territory last year.
“I was flabbergasted to hear Premier Higgs say that he is willing to move forward on fracking regardless of what First Nations think,” said Coon. “That shows to me the urgency of getting this bill into the Legislative Assembly as soon as possible.”
Coon’s bill will be debated at 2nd reading during Opposition business in the Legislative Assembly next week.
Coon will also be proposing a bill that aims to expand New Brunswick’s renewable energy sector later this spring.
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