Energy
Minister Craig Leonard extolled the virtues of shale gas and other
energy developments in the province at a Board of Trade Lunch this
afternoon.
Leonard
claims the cost of not moving forward on these projects is simply too
great in this region, considering the number of businesses that could
benefit from a cheap, domestic supply of shale gas. He further says most
New Brunswickers see that the process can be done safely, and the
detractors are just a small and vocal group.
Despite taking a
serious tone on the protests in Rexton which he called a "dark day",
Leonard also shared a nickname for the detractors of shale gas: whereas
in the past, he says the government encountered "NIMBYs", or "not in my
back yard" protestors, now they're encountering "BANANAs" which stands
for "build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything."