A LOOK AT THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH'S REPORT ON SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT IN N.B.
Sackville Tribune-Post :: 21 May 2014
"Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".
World Health Organization 1948
In September of 2012 Dr. Eilish Cleary released a report, entitled "Chief Medical Officer of Health's Recommendations Concerning Shale Gas Development in New Brunswick", that assessed the potential impact a shale gas industry would have on human and environmental health in the province. At the time of its release the government suppressed the report for two days, until the inevitable public outcry brought them to their senses and forced them to make the report public. In her report Dr. Cleary warns that two things must occur before any serious attempts are made to establish shale gas development in the province; that we take the time to investigate all of the possible negative consequences associated with unconventional shale gas drilling and have full disclosure and open consultation with the public, many of whom have serious doubts about the safety of unconventional gas exploration.
The report, it turns out, was ahead of its time, because now, in mid 2014 there have been three more scientific and government reports appearing in as many months saying exactly the same thing; slow down and examine the effect that the industry has had
in other jurisdictions during the last ten years, then decide whether any potential benefits outweigh the risks.
"States Parties (of which Canada is one) recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, including the provision of adequate nutritious food and clean drinking water, taking into consideration the dangers
and risks of environmental pollution; as well Canada in its duty and role of a States Party shall take all effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolishing traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children".
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 24
The CMOH report, produced and released on Dr. Cleary's own initiative, begins by considering the as yet undetermined economic benefits of shale gas, which in themselves are questionable if industry development ultimately impacts human health negatively.
If an expansion of unconventional shale gas development takes place in N.B. the following needs must be met:
One - Actions must be taken by government to avoid any possible negative health impacts, this includes the need for infrastructure changes and increased local and provincial services that do not exist at present, but would be essential to protect public health.
Two - If the industry proceeds, continuous monitoring of the health of the population would have to be ongoing, to slow or stop further industry development if human and environmental health are perceived to be in jeopardy.
Dr. Cleary summarizes; "All of the recommendations are grounded in the guiding principles for protecting public health, including scientific knowledge and reasonable judgement of the determinants of health, ethical considerations, public health values and principles and the resulting health objectives. The recommendations propose actions that ensure transparency and community participation, filling knowledge gaps and enabling more effective government oversight".
These are overwhelming and costly issues to resolve so it is not surprising that the government has chosen to ignore them.
"In order to achieve sustainable development, policies must be based on the Precautionary Principle. Environmental measures must anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of environmental degradation. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation".
Supreme Court of Canada, Section 2.3
Dr. Cleary's report was finalized after a critical review of shale gas development in jurisdictions around the world. They reviewed case studies reported in credible scientific literature, listened to relevant issues that were deliberated on during conferences and in media reports, discussed the issues with public health experts and listened to the ongoing concerns about the risks of shale gas debated by the public.
Much emphasis is placed upon the need for openness, transparency and the availability of reliable information. As well, well informed decisions cannot be made with out consultation with and participation of the public via community events, much like the Voice of the People Tour that is presently visiting locations throughout the province, fulfilling their mission to provide the public with information about shale gas and clean energy. That this tour has been funded and organized by a group of communities opposed to shale gas development (New Brunswick Anti Shale Gas Alliance) is a testament to the strong opposition to shale gas in the province. That the government has not offered to provide a similar venue to consult with the public indicates just how little they understand that their responsibility to the residents of the province, when dealing with such a controversial issue, is based on two way communication.
"We are convinced that the quality of life for the residents in the Municipality of Sackville, for both the present and the future, will be destroyed if we allow at-risk exploitation and pollution of the Earth, water and air".
Community Bill of Rights, Sackville N.B.
The report continues; "In summary, the CMOH has provided the recommendations in this document to inform government decision-making. Absent from the inputs to date has been consultation with the public and this is considered a key next step. In addition, this document is intended to provide a solid information base for that discussion. It is recognized that these recommendations would require a formal implementation and oversightstructure and require participation from across the community".
After two years people in communities throughout the province are still waiting to see these important recommendations implemented.
Donna Mclellan for the TAAHF
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