As Members heard from proponents, the central Mackenzie Valley resource play is considered “frontier” not only because it is remote with little infrastructure to support development, but because specific drilling and production conditions for this shale formation are still largely unknown. The technical considerations and impacts of hydraulic fracturing vary from one shale play to another, depending on a wide range of environmental and geological factors. The success of an operation relies on sound knowledge of local geology and finely tuned engineering and drilling expertise. The committee insists that in order to protect ecological integrity and sustain this industry, a baseline understanding of the environmental and geological features of the central Mackenzie Valley must be established before projects enter the production phase. Should companies choose not to advance to production in the near term, this data will remain a valuable starting point for future development.
In addition to geological mapping, the committee agrees that ground and surface water sources, permafrost conditions, seismicity, and proximity of drill sites to critical habitat are among the issues that must be specifically addressed in baseline information gathering, and that the Government of the Northwest Territories should pursue federal resources to enable this work.
Recommendation 2
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories include in its policy framework on hydraulic fracturing a strategy to gather environmental and geological baseline information, with federal support.
I will now turn the floor over to my colleague Mr. Menicoche.