There are growing concerns in New Brunswick that the natural gas industry is slowing down because of the province’s moratorium on fracking.
SWN Resources has already announced plans to suspend drilling in the province and focus on other jurisdictions.
In the Sussex-area, residents say they’re already noticing a slowdown.
“You can already feel it, you know,” said Harley Hunt, who operates an excavation and drilling business in Sussex.
“There’s just not the phone calls, not the spin-off. It’s just not there,” he said.
Alex Main says his auto parts shop usually sees a lot of business from the industry — as do dozens of other small businesses nearby, he says.
“They buy tools, wrenches, that type of thing. Oils, hydraulic fluid, hoses, air filters,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Opposition Tories offered some numbers on what the industry slowdown could be costing.
“That could have been half a billion dollars and up to 1,000 jobs that could have been created this,” said interim PC Leader Bruce Fitch.
“So the Premier, we’re just asking him to clarify how much investment he is driving out of the province.”
Meanwhile, the Liberal governmentinsists there is no industry backlash against the fracking moratorium.
“I think, despite having a moratorium and everybody knowing about it, it doesn’t seem like investments are leaving the province,” said Energy Minister Donald Arsenault.
Back in the Greater Sussex Area, some residents predict the province will eventually lift the fracking moratorium.
“I think you’ll see it change,” said Hunt.
“I think the government will start fracking. I think they have to.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mike Cameron
