After being blocked in his attempts to make a presentation before Fredericton city council, Mark D’Arcy finally delivered his presentation on shale gas on Tuesday, April 10th at City Hall.
D’Arcy presented scientific data about the real and inevitable impacts that shale gas mining occurring on the outskirts of Fredericton will have on air quality in our city and surrounding areas. In addition, D’Arcy gave compelling evidence on the increased cancer rates, asthma, and other debilitating diseases experienced by people living in areas of the US where this industry is in full production. In his concluding remarks, D’Arcy asked that Fredericton City Council pass a resolution to ban shale gas development on the outskirts of our City as other NB municipalities have done so as to protect our air quality.
Mayor Woodside read six proclamations during the council meeting, including one on volunteerism, another to commemorate the anniversary of Barber shop quartets, and one to mark the month of April as poetry month. Ironically, the Mayor and councilors refused to engage in a debate or pass a meaningful resolution that would protect the one thing that is so vital for us to become volunteers, to rejoice in NB poetry, or to participate as members of Barber shop quartets—our air. It was clear to me and to many other folks who attended the meeting that on May 14th, when we go to the polls to elect our new mayor and councillors, Frederictonians who are concerned about their health, not to mention the health of our children’s children, need to resoundingly vote for anyone but Woodside and incumbent councillors.