…Continued from PART ONE
With claims that fracking creates new jobs, we need a rigorous assessment of how many direct, long-term jobs have been created from different fracking projects in Canada. We also need a comparison of how many jobs would be created from green jobs and industries. For example, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives? report ?Enbridge Pipedreams and Nightmares? notes that Enbridge boasts that a fossil fuel project like the $5 billion Northern Gateway Pipeline would create 63,000 person-years of employment during its construction phase, and 1,146 full-time jobs once completed. However, CCPA reveals these estimates are overblown and that it would only create approximately 1,850 construction jobs per year for three years, and a handful of permanent new jobs once completed. The report points out that between 3 and 34 times the number of direct jobs would be created if the $5 billion were invested in green jobs and industries.
While the CCA report looks at the greenhouse gas emissions for coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, soloar and other forms of energy, an analysis of the water, health and other impacts is needed. Recognizing that these topics were outside the purview of the CCA?s study, this is still information the public needs to decide whether fracking is the solution to our energy needs.
Governments also need an assessment of the rates of well production decline in provinces that are fracking. Fracking is a classic 'short-term gain for long-term pain? example. Fracked wells produce a lot in the first three years of their existence and then go into steep decline. David Hughes highlights that four out of five shale plays in the U.S., accounting for 80% of production, are already in production decline, or are "flat." The CCA report points out that a company ?focuses on indentifying the most favourable areas for development? or what are known as ?sweet spots?. Extracting gas from ?sweet spots? and steep well decline can impact job creation and gas prices.
Communities want a ban on fracking
It is clear we do not know enough about fracking to declare that it is safe. However, based on what we do know and what we have seen, communities don?t want fracking to continue. They do not want to put their water sources or health at risk. And they want to take action to curb climate change and build towards a future lit with renewable. Lethbridge is the most recent community to say no to oil drilling in their community. http://www.canadians.org/blog/win-goldenkey-abandons-plans-drill-lethbridge Many communities continue to fight fracking in their community. To connect with other groups in your community or to lend solidarity to communities fighting fracking, see A Fractivist?s Toolkit: How you can take action to protect water and stop fracking.
Yesterday morning, the Council of Canadians set up a mock fracking rig on Parliament Hill and staged a mock fracking wastewater spill to highlight the risks of fracking. We delivered 16,000 signed petitions to NDP MP Francois Choquette, Green Party MP Bruce Hyer and NDP MP Megan Leslie from people calling for a ban.
It?s clear the Harper government isn?t interested in acting on the findings of the report it commissioned. Provinces in the Atlantic have held off making decisions about fracking.
UNESCO made the timely announcement that they want a frack-free zone around Gros Morne National Park which could be stripped of its Brian Gallant, leader of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick, continued his commitment to a moratorium on fracking if elected on September 22.
Based on the findings of the CCA report, we urge all premiers to put a stop to fracking because we simply don?t have enough information to declare that it?s safe.
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Emma Lui's blog
http://canadians.org/blog/glaring-info-gaps-strong-reason-stop-fracking
