A petition against fracking in the Fort Nelson area has garnered almost 24,000 signatures. The petition on Change.org calls for Premier Christy Clark to stop issuing long-term water withdrawal licenses to the shale gas industry until more consultation has been done with First Nations and the public and a "clear, responsible, and effective water management plan" has been developed.
"B.C. Premier Premier Christy Clark is poised to give away 3 BILLION litres of water every year from the Fort Nelson River in northeast BC to Encana for fracking," writes the Fort Nelson First Nation in the petition. "This river is the lifeblood of the Fort Nelson First Nation."
Leaders of the First Nation were in Vancouver earlier this month to discuss their concerns at the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs office.
There are currently 20 licences under review by the province, which the group claims are being approved without proper consultation of First Nations or the public.
The petition, titled "Premier Clark, Don't Give Away Our Fresh Water for Fracking", reached 20,000 signatures on November 28 and has 23,789 from people across North America as of press time.
