Shale gas industry needs study

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, centre left, and New Brunswick Liberal Leader Brian Gallant speak with the media in Moncton, N.B. on Saturday, August 23, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marc Grandmaison

Greater scientific study is required before Canada expands its shale gas industry, federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Saturday while campaigning alongside his provincial counterpart in New Brunswick.

Trudeau waded into the controversial issue while at a rally in Moncton with New Brunswick Liberal Leader Brian Gallant, who is vying to become premier after the Sept. 22 provincial election.

"I'm very much in agreement with Mr. Gallant that in terms of fracking and shale gas, we need to make sure that we have all the information, that there is proper science done," Trudeau said.

"That's why we need to make sure that we're strong on both the science and the long-term vision for New Brunswick and for Canada before we move ahead with that."

The question over whether to develop New Brunswick's reservoir of shale gas has dominated the early days of the election campaign.

Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward launched his re-election bid Thursday in front of a field of natural gas wells, promoting the merits of an industry he says can reverse its economic struggles.

The issue has been controversial. Nearly a year ago, protests over shale gas development spiralled into violence when the RCMP enforced an injunction to end a blockade outside an energy company's storage compound in Rexton, N.B. Police cars were torched and dozens were arrested.

Trudeau was also asked what if any advice he would give to Gallant. Like Trudeau, Gallant, 32, has faced criticism from some who say he is too inexperienced to lead.

Trudeau dismissed that concern, saying Gallant has surrounded himself with a strong team and will make for a co-operative partner in Ottawa should he become premier after the Sept. 22 vote.

Some opponents of abortion attended the Liberal rally, which Trudeau said was a sign of one of Canada's strengths — the ability to express oneself freely. Still, he said his view that abortion should be accessible to all women has not changed.

Access to abortion has dogged both the provincial Tories and Liberals since the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton, the only private clinic that offered the procedure in the province, closed this summer.

By law, a woman who wants an abortion covered by medicare must have two doctors certify in writing that it is medically necessary and it must be done by a specialist in one of two approved hospitals.

Alward has said there is no need to change the law while Gallant has said he would both review it and work to get rid of it. Those positions have triggered protests from people who say the law should be outright repealed.

Elsewhere on the campaign, provincial NDP Leader Dominic Cardy promised to rescind a shared-risk pension deal with New Brunswick public pension retirees. Critics have said the changes put pensioners in financial jeopardy.

The government moved to a shared-risk pension model late last year for 17,000 current and 13,000 former government employees.

At dissolution, the Tories had 41 seats, the Liberals 13 and there was one Independent.