N.S. will miss out on benefits due to onshore fracking ban: petroleum group

BUSINESS

N.S. will miss out on benefits due to onshore fracking ban: petroleum group

The Canadian Press Published Thursday, September 4, 2014 6:44AM EDT

$N.S. energy minister to make fracking call$

Protesters gather outside the Nova Scotia legislature in Halifax to show their opposition to the use of hydraulic fracturing or fracking, on Friday, April 22, 2011. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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HALIFAX - An industry group is expressing disappointment in Nova Scotia's decision to ban fracking for onshore shale gas.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says the move isn't based on technical knowledge of industry regulators.

President Dave Collyer says the decision also means Nova Scotia will miss out on potential benefits related to shale gas development.

Energy Minister Andrew Younger says the ban will remain in place until the province's population is ready to embrace the industry.

A panel of Nova Scotia experts recently released a report saying fracking shouldn't be allowed until more independent research is done on health, environmental and economic impacts.

A two-year moratorium on fracking was put in place by the previous NDP government in 2012 as public protests grew in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

New Brunswick Premier David Alward says Nova Scotia is risking economic decline.

Alward has heavily promoted shale gas development in his bid for re-election in New Brunswick.