an image to the public that
hydraulic fracturing is a safe
and a clean technique unlike
the practices used in the Alberta
Tar Sands; this, of course, is
wrong. Fracking raises a number
of concerns over health and
quality of various aspects of
life including the prosperity of
sensitive ecosystems, industries
such as agriculture, and local
wells and aquifers.

Hydraulic fracturing uses
publicly owned water. With
20 per cent of the world’s
fresh water, Canada has a
responsibility to protect and
conserve its supply; yet, the
process of fracking cannot use
salt water due to its corrosive
nature. With water shortages
around the world, there’s a
potential for over-consumption
and depletion of resources
in pursuing natural gas.
DangersOfFracking.com informs
that thousands of tons of sand
and chemicals are combined with
up to 8,000,000 liters of fresh
water and shot at high velocities
into the ground below to release
the desired shale gas. That said,
540 billion litres of water were
used for fracking in 20 in the
US, and that only accounted
for 0.3 per cent of the country’s
freshwater consumption. In
addition to concerns about
over-consuming water resources
through fracking, there's alsoa

concern of contamination.

Scientific findings conclude
that the large amounts
of chemicals, sand, and
contaminated fresh water left in
the subsurface during hydraulic
fracturing can leach into large
areas around sites. If this does
not deter advocates of natural
gas, I don’t know what will.

The Canadian government
relies heavily on the energy
industry to supply the country
with revenue. The country is
sticking to its guns in spite of
criticism and debate. The general
consensus is that humans must
reduce their consumption of
fossil fuels, but Canada has made
little effort in this area, which
should leave many to shake in
their oily boots.

Recent developments in
British Columbia only magnify
the country’s inability to assert
its independence from the
energy sector—the addiction
that it cannot seem to quit.

The government’s relationship
to natural gas and fracking is
like a smoker’s love of nicotine
patches while trying to quit
smoking. They use the toxic
patches in the hopes that this
will convince friends they'll be
successful in quitting smoking’s
harmful habit; fracking and
natural gas are similarly harmful.
Liquefied natural gas and
hydraulic fracturing are allowing
the government to receive a
slight dose of fossil fuels—like

a hit of nicotine from a patch.
The increase in production of
natural gas does not mean that
there is any less production of

 

oil and coal, but only that they
are adding more toxins into the
environment. How this then
gives politicians in power the
idea that they can promote
themselves as environmentally
conscious is beyond reasonable.
All they seem to do is create
revenue in the hopes of
balancing the financial budget.
Unfortunately the national
obsession with energy that is
predominant in Alberta is being
taken up in other provinces
like British Columbia. British
Columbia is hooked. With
large price tags and potential
for job creation, the provincial
government is looking to heavily
invest both economically and
environmentally in liquefied
natural gas projects, most
notably pipelines. Now, as
conscious consumers, how
such destruction can happen
right under our noses is due
to two words: advertisement
campaigns. Recent commercials
regarding pipelines and liquefied
natural gas projects are upbeat
and feature an abundance
of thriving natural spaces.
Campaigns almost revert back
to the traditional concept of
the nuclear family to help push
the idea of increased natural
gas consumption. Like most
commercials they are lacking
in full disclosure. They do not
highlight any negatives. That

 

there will be more tankers
moving through extremely
sensitive waterways along our
coast, towing with them a high
risk of destroying ecosystems
both marine- and land-based,
isn’t noted.

The lack of transparency
between the provincial
government and its citizens is
concerning. The way I see it,
all Canadians must act like the
government's doctor, both on
the provincial and national
level. Citizens must continue to
check up on and question the
government to make sure it is
following the steps to conquer
its addiction to fossil fuels.

More and more individuals

are realizing that they have an
immense amount of influence
over leaders’ decisions but more
radical steps must be taken. Let’s
face it, it’s a hard habit to quit
and no one likes listening to their
doctor when they say you have to
give up the one thing you desire
most. Right now the addiction
still has all the power and citizens
are left shaking their heads.