Date: April 10, 2014
To: Dr. David Wheeler, Chair of the Nova Scotia Review of Hydraulic Fracturing Committee
From: Ruby McDorman and Joan Millican: co-chairs of Along the Shore Community Health Board; Kathy Blois: chair of East Hants Community Health Board; Lorinda Brinkhurst: chair of North Shore Area Community Health board; Holly Kennedy: chair of South Colchester Community Health Board; Heather Bishop-Amero and Tricia Murphy: co-chairs of Truro and Area Community Health Board.
Dear Dr. David Wheeler
As chairs and co-chairs for the five community health boards representing the Colchester East Hants Health Authority, we wish to make a submission to the N.S. Review of Hydraulic Fracturing Committee.
Community Health Boards (CHB’s) have an important, legislated role in promoting health and wellness in the communities we represent. We are considered to be the eyes, ears and voices of our communities.We advise the district health authority (DHA) of developing or ongoing issues in our area and participate in a dialogue with the DHA through the development of Community Action Plans. We advocate on behalf of the citizens of our communities through written submissions, attendance at meetings and representing the needs of our community wherever appropriate. We review applications for wellness fund grants and provide the funds to projects that address identified community needs and issues, from the annual budget allotted to each CHB.In short, we have had and will continue to have a very important role in supporting health and wellness in our communities.
On a united front the CHB’s have influenced policy decisions that have improved quality of life in Nova Scotia; one only has to consider the ban on smoking in public places to be reminded of the strong role the CHB’s had in making this possible.
We now believe we need to communicate to you and our government about hydraulic fracturing in Nova Scotia.
We understand the importance of provincial revenue generation to be able to fund the services that Nova Scotians need to be healthy and productive citizens. We also understand that resource extraction is considered an important way to generate such revenue. Employment opportunities for higher income positions may be significant in this sector which is a positive thing too. However, we must strongly recommend that the government remain committed to their statement on this matter:“Unless we can definitively determine that fracking will not harm our resources, our environment or the general public in any way, the extraction procedure should be prohibited.”
We believe that revenue generation in the short and medium term does not outweigh the long term consequences and costs to the health of our communities, citizens and environment. The physical health of individuals, livelihoods of community businesses and the physical environment are issues or determinants that may be at risk. Our position is supported by many other groups representing the overall wellness of people and communities (Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative, Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs: press release Jan 31, 2014; Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities: Truro Daily News publication November 8, 2013; New Brunswick College of Family Physicians and Sackville Memorial Hospital Medical Staff: Resolution statement May 28, 2012)
In closing, we believe that hydraulicfracturing should be carefully considered, with transparency and accountability at the forefront of the process and only be embarked upon if it meets the expectations implicit in the government statement.
Thank you for your attention to our submission,
Signed respectfully on behalf of the five community health boards in Colchester East Hants Health Authority,
Lorinda Brinkhurst, Chair
North Shore Area Community Health Board