Donald Arseneault says shale gas industry must change approach

Energy Minster Donald Arseneaultsays a recent reportby the Liberal-appointed New Brunswick Commission on Hydraulic Fracturingshows that government and industry must take a different approach ifshale gas development is ever going to move ahead.

"We need to rebuild our relationship withFirstNations to regain that trust, as well we have to put communities in the middle of this process," he said on Information Morning Moncton on Monday.

• Supporters, opponents doubt fracking will come to N.B. after report
• Shale gas commission calls for independent regulator if moratorium lifted
• Anti-fracking protesters say report won't lessen their resolve

Thethree-person commission set out a detailed plan for the province to follow if it wants to lift its moratorium on shalegas exploration.

It included the recommendation of an independent regulator and a rethink ofhow the government consults citizens, including aboriginal people, on resource development.

"We have to include First Nations at the forefront," Arseneaultsaid.

"Not after, when all hell breaks loose and then people feel we have to talk to themthat's not right, that's not the way to go," hesaid referring to the fracking protests of 2013 that ended in five police vehicles burned and 40 people arrested.

Information Morning - Moncton9:26Fracking report

Minister of Energy and Mines, Donald Arsenault, talks about the future of hydraulic fracturing in New Brunswick.Arseneault pointedto theTrevaliMine, west of Bathurst and the controversialSisson Mine, north of Fredericton,as examples of how industry can work with First Nations to provide training and employment to members.

"When I go visit Trevali Mine now I see First Nations actually working in the mine. To me that's a success story that we need to replicate," he said.

Industry must change approach

SWN Resources was the oil and gas company at the centre of the protests in southeastern New Brunswick and Arseneault called out thecompany specifically on Monday, saying SWN must change the way it does business.

"They've been very clear to me, they feel that in terms of First Nations they say that's not their job. They say that's the government's job to consult with First Nations," he said.

"I told SWN that is everybody's job including SWN, so if you do want to do business in New Brunswickthese areissuesthat are very important and you're going to have to work with it and if you don't want to work with it chances are you're not going to have operations here."

In early 2015,SWN told the provincial governmentit was moving its resources out of New Brunswick because of the moratorium.

CBC News has contacted SWN Resources Canada for a response to Arseneault's comments.

As for lifting the moratorium, Arseneault says "time will tell."

"If industry and everybody around the table wants to really change the way we do things then I think we can see some positive outlook but do I think it's there today? No," he said.