February 23, 2014
Dr David Wheeler
President, Cape Breton University,
Office of the President
P.O.Box 5300, 1250 Grand Lake
Road,
Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada B1P
6L2
Tel: (902) 539-5300
Fax: (902) 562-0119 hfreview@cbu.ca
Honorable Randy Delorey
Department of Environment
Barrington Tower
1894 Barrington Street
Suite 1800
PO Box 442
Halifax, NS B3J 2P8
Phone: (902) 424-3600
Fax: (902) 424-0501 min_env@gov.ns.ca
Honorable Leo Glavine
Department of Health and
Wellness
17th Floor, Barrington Tower
1894 Barrington Street
P.O. Box 488
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2R8
Phone: (902) 424-3377
Fax: (902) 424-0559 health.minister@gov.ns.ca
Honorable Stephen McNeil
Office of the Premier
7th Floor, One Government Place
1700 Granville Street
P.O. Box 726
Halifax, NS
B3J 2T3
Phone: (902) 424-6600
Fax: (902) 424-7648 premier@gov.ns.ca
Honorable Andrew Younger
Department of Energy
4th Floor, Bank of Montreal Building
5151 George Street
P.O. Box 2664
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3P7
Phone: (902) 424-7793
Fax: (902) 424-3265 energyminister@gov.ns.ca
Re: comment and input for consideration by the Wheeler Expert Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing in
Nova Scotia
Dear Sirs:
You have requested comment on industry’s plan for hydraulic fracturing in various shale deposits in
Nova Scotia. I have paid close attention to the debate around this issue and have read submissions and

rebuttals from both the key industry players and those who oppose fracking in Nova Scotia. I believe that the evidence can lead to only one conclusion: That lifting the moratorium on fracking would leave this Province broken and impoverished, environmentally diminished, and more dependent on external support and resources.
The industry urges us to consider the ‘reality and opportunity’ afforded by fracking for our Province.
They suggest that the way out of Nova Scotia’s energy dilemma is to seek our own supply of shale gas as a ‘transition’ fuel while we work out better options. So lets be realistic. Nova Scotia is not the Bakken field, or even the smaller plays around the Marcellus shale deposit in Pennsylvania and New York . We have a relatively small land base with an even smaller area likely to have a ‘suitable’ geology for oil and gas. Energy companies do not seek to relieve Nova Scotia of reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. They have their eyes on a much bigger market – the Eastern seaboard of the USA. Should economic quantities of natural gas be discovered beneath the farmland and rural forests of this Province it is highly unlikely that any of it will be used to offset our current reliance on coal. With natural gas prices at their current highs, fracked gas will be exported as fast as possible to lucrative markets in New
England and beyond.
So what of the prosperity promised by this industry? Research by David Kay of Cornell University’s
Community and Regional Development Institute has ably demonstrated the economic impact of fracking in areas in the US desperate for jobs and economic growth. The promise of instant wealth through fracking has proved seductive, but completely illusory. Real, short term gains in employment and disposable income have, over time crumbled into renewed despair and desperation. Fracking has created short term winners and long-term losers.
( http://www.greenchoices.cornell.edu/downloads/development/shale/Economic_Impact.pdf
) . There is no reason for Nova Scotia to become another long term loser. If we take strong and proactive steps now, by rejecting this option, we can look forward to a new energy future based on renewable hydro, wind, and even tidal power, while avoiding the crushing defeat of communities as evidenced in places like West Virginia, and rural Pennsylvania.
Nova Scotia’s health minister, Mr. Leo Glavine, is on record as supporting a continuation of the current moratorium on fracking in Nova Scotia. In an all candidates meeting just prior to the recent Provincial election, Mr. Glavine opined that the geology of Nova Scotia is unlikely to support economic exploitation of shale gas. I heartily agree and applaud Mr. Glavine for his stand and support for a ‘no frack’ future for this Province. As Health Minister he clearly understands the potentially devastating effects of fracking on the health of Nova Scotians, and the not-so-hidden costs that contamination of ground water and abuse of our environment will exact. Its time to end the moratorium – and replace it with a permanent ban on fracking in this Province.
I urge the committee to carefully weigh the evidence of benefit and cost associated with industry’s application to begin fracking in this Province. The people of this Province see something better in an energy future than destruction of our environment. We see good quality jobs created in sustainable industries based on renewable resources. We see a proud and independent future not based on an energy company disrupting our geological and ground water resources for the benefit of their shareholders, and the residents of New England. We see an end to sunset industries based on fossil

fuels, and a future in which Nova Scotians depend less on shipping natural resource commodities to foreign markets, and more on ingenuity and value. Its time.
Yours sincerely
Peter Hicklenton
3305 Black Rock Road
Waterville, Nova Scotia
B0P1V0 peterhicklenton@yahoo.com
;
Phone: 902 538 8304