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EJOLT Expansion of commodity frontiers in Québec: Fact sheet fracking on Anticosti Island 038

Background

Gas Anticosti Island ( 49°30 ′N 63°00 ′W), nicknamed the ‘Pearl of the St. Lawrence’ is located in the Gulf of St. Keywords – title Lawrence and is approximately 225 km in length , and 56km at its widest point > Shale gas (Figure 1). It covers approximately > threatened species 7,943km2 in terms of land area and is features vast landscapes, rich wildlife, > fossils and a sparse human population. Given > moratorium its location at the mouth of the St. Figure 1: Location of Anticosti Island (Google maps, 2014) > water quality Lawrence seaway and the Gulf leading to the Atlantic Ocean, the island lies > traditional livelihoods along a core navigation route and has Oil and Natural gas exploration over the centuries had a number of shipwrecks wash upon its shores (Figure In February, 2014, of the 2). Parti Québecois announced the approval

of plans to invest more than USD $96 Features million into exploration for oil and shale

gas reserves on Anticosti Island (Figures Anticosti has three major protected 3 and 4) . The island sits along the areas where all industrial areas have northern edge of the been off limits. These areas include one deposit, and has been speculated to Figure 2: Shipwreck on Anticosti national park (Parc National d’Anticosti) cont ain more than 45 billion barrels of (source: www.quebecmaritime.ca ) and two ecological reserves, the Grand oil. This speculation alone has Lac-Salé and the Pointe -Heath, Timeline generated substantial interest to protected for their unique biodiversity commence an exploratory phase of 1962 - Jean Lesage, 19th and geological features. Access to these extraction. Part of this interest premier of Québec, signed a areas is strictly forbidden, except in social contracting has centred on assessing the total cases of scientific research or for guaranteeing the primacy of amount of oil revenue, and potential job educational purposes. The majority of petroleum resources of creation from exploration. However, no the island is categorised as habitat for Anticosti to the people of environment impact assessments have Québec. fauna, including migrating birds, deer, been considered prior to beginning an , caribou, , otter, , mink, 2002- 2006- USD 8 million is exploratory phase, casting considerable , grey seals, , black invested by Hydro-Québec to concerns over project sustainability and complete oil and gas bears, and the highly vulnerable atlantic social well-being for residents of the prospecting on Île Anticosti. salmon, among others. Additionally, island and Québec’s futu re generations. 2008- The Liberal Party of more than 600 species of prehistoric

Québec under leadership of fossils have been found on the island, The oil and gas enterprise, Gaz Métro in Jean Charest, sold all including species of brachyopods, a strategic arrangement with exploration permits on cephalopods, marine gastropods and Anticosti at 10 cents a Hydrocarbures Anticosti (a co -enterprise trilobites. hectare to three private formed by the QC government, and enterprises (Pétrolia, three other enterprises: Pétrolia, Corridor, and Junex). A number of unique geological features Corridor Ressources and St -Aubin) are also present, unparalled in North 2010- The three private would have a monopoly on the America. These include majestic enterprises announce the commercialisation of natural gas discovery of oil and gas canyons such as the Vauréal Falls and a exploitation. Over the course of the deposits valued at greater series of caves with depths of over summer of 2015, Pétrolia plans to lead than 40 billion barrels 400m, and calcite accumulations 15 explorations of between 1.5 and 2 2014- Parti Québecois unrivaled in the province of Québec. The kilometres deep in order to determine leader, Pauline Marois, reefs off the island are among the most where three future sites of shale gas announces the investment of ecologically sensitive in the St. extraction will be located (Ra dio USD 96 million for oil and Lawrence seaway. shale gas exploration on , 5 August, 2014). However, no

Anticosti. exploitable deposits of natural gas have

(Source: www.liberaux.net) yet been found on the island, despite

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decades of investigation. According to the powerful interests of politicians and one study, more than 12,000 boreholes industries seeking domestic extraction. would be required to extract just 1 to 2% of the total sup ply (assuming the 45 In one recent study conducted in 2013 million barrels of oil shale prove by a Master’s student, more than 150 accurate) (Le Devoir, 24 October, 2014). residents of Port -Ménier , the principal town on the isl and, were interviewed in Marc Durer, retired professor from the order to gain a better understanding of Figure 3: Area open for s hale gas Department of Earth and Atmospheric the socio-ecological challenges exploration (in blue) Sciences at the Université du Québec à associated with oil and gas exploration (Source: Corridor Resources) Montréal has stated: “The drilling on the island. The results were platforms could occupy up to 4 to 5% of revealing; more than 70% of interviewed the surface of the island without residents felt that their voices were not including the associated infrastr ucture considered or heard in the debate that would need to put in place” (Le concerning resource exploitation. As one Devoir, 4 June, 2013). Former Québec island resident, Frédéric Michaud premier Pauline Marois expected that proclaimed: “Supporters of the oil over USD $37 billion in royalties, profits extraction ar e not from the island and do and taxes over a period of 30 years not see it as a jewel, or they say that could be expected from the oil on Anticostiens won’t be affected...they take Anticosti and that ‘energ y independence’ us for imbeciles.” He also emphasized Figure 4: Initial exploration could be achieved given that the the rare unique beauty of the island and (source: LeDevoir) province currently imports nearly USD a quality of life built upon community

$12 billion of oil annually (Council of solidarity. “Off the gulf coast, we can see Canadians, 20, February, 2014). The seals, even whales, while on land we prospect of transporting the natural gas can find salmon and ro yal eagles. I’ve from Anticosti remains another lived in other parts of Québec, but what contentious point, gi ven that one option we find here does not exist elsewhere.” proposed has been the construction of In relation to community relations, an undersea pipeline. No assessment of resident Anne -Isabelle Cuvillier stated: costs or of environmental impacts of “We are a close community who helps transportation options has been each other, and give each other the Figure 5: Protest against oil and conducted. resource s to survive.” Of those who gas exploration in Montréal (QC)- expressed concern over the oil shale Translation: “The real thugs are in government” The conflict developments, near unanimous (Source: agreement was declared that the arrival www.sabotagemedia.anarkhia.or g) With a population of barely 250 of the petrol industry would completely

individuals, the residents of Anticosti are disrupt the existing mode of life, the risk fiercely proud of their island and its of tourism potential on the island. As natural heritage. As fervour grows over Frédéric Michaud added : “This issue is oil shale exploration, the residents of the already having impacts here - the people island continue to suffer from a lac k of are divided about oil exploration.” (Le basic services, primarily to potable Devoir, 28 June, 2014). drinking water due to the poor maintenance of existing water treatment Several environmental groups and facilities on the island in recent years. political parties have vehemently Yet residents are also aware that the opposed oil exploration on the island voices of 180 adults are no match (Figure 5), including The David Suzuki Figure 6: Rivière à l’Huile, Anticosti against the substantial econo mic Foundation, Équiterre, and the Québec (source: Wiki Commons) demands for energy in the province and Solidaire party. The mayor of the

This document should be cited as: Krishnan, Vijay. 2015. Expansion of commodity frontiers in Québec: fracking on Anticosti Island , EJOLT Factsheet No. 38, 3 p.

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municipality of Anticosti Island in Por t- Socio-Economic: Ménier, Jean -François Boudreault, The greatest social impacts from oil confirms that there exists an interest to exploration on Anticosti relate to the explore the potential of oil wealth disruption of traditional livelihoods beneath the surface but emphasizes associated with hunting, fishing, and to concerns about the co -habitation of tourism. The consequences associated traditional fishing (Figure 6) and hunting with these losses could include land activities with oil and gas exploration. dispossession, loss of a sense of place, lost tourism revenue, loss of Meanwhile, concerned individuals from archaeological and natural heritage for around Québec and beyond have present and future generations, and the launched an online petition expressing risk of social conflict. their concerns over the industry and the future of the environment and well -being Health: of people on Anticosti. A petition on the Sig nificant health risks are posed by Avaaz sit e has received nearly 40,000 shale gas exploration, including risks of signatures and has called for an increased groundwater and surface immediate moratorium on shale gas water contamination, given the already exploration to avoid irreversible poor water treatment facilities on the damages on the island prior to more island. The loss of a sense of place and informed understanding of the short and potential ramifications fr om the loss of long-term impacts of hydraulic fracturing. traditional livelihoods might also disrupt As Anti costi activist Marie -Hélène Parant established community relationships and states: “I have a feeling that there will support systems. not be a period of investigation; they will continue without examining the risks.” (Le Devoir, 4 June, 2013).

Specific Impacts References Environmental: Patterson, Brent. “Fracking planned for The principal impacts associating with Anticosti Island in the St. Lawrence.” drilling on the island correspond to the The Council of Canadians. 20, loss of biodiversity, particularly species February, 2014. which are already threatened on the island. These include a number of plants Phénix, William. “ Le Québec, which are not found on the mainland and producteur de pétrole? Exploration are unique to Atlantic Canada, such as: pétrolière sur l’île d’Anticosti : le temps Cypripediu m arietinum, Carex backii, des forages.” Radio -Canada, 5 August, This publication was developed as a and Symphyotrichum anticostense. 2014. part of the project Environmental Justice Organisations, Liabilities and (Sabourin and Morin, 2009). The Atlantic Sabourin, André and Morin, Danièle Trade (EJOLT) (FP7-Science in Salmon, various species of whales and (2009). Quelques plantes rares ou Society-2010-1, under grant seals offshore, and migrating birds could agreement no 266642). The views d’intérêt de l’île d’Anticosti. Le and opinions expressed in all EJOLT also be affected by oil drilling and Naturaliste Canad ien, 133 (1) : 5-11. publications reflect the authors’ view transport. and the European Union is not liable Shields, Alexandre. “Analyse for any use that may be made of the indépendante – Au moins 12,000 puits information contained therein. Elsewhere, oil exploratio n on the island EJOLT aims to improve policy will pose risks to water quality (through de pétrole sur Anticosti.” Le Devoir, responses to and support both surface and groundwater Canada, 4 June, 2013. collaborative research and action on contamination), which is already environmental conflicts through Shields, Alexandre. “À Anticosti, seuls capacity building of environmental compromised on parts of the island. The face au pétrole tout -puissant.” Le justice groups around the world. unique geological features of the island Devoir, Canada, 28 June, 2014. Visit our free resource library and may also be impacted by large -scale database at www.ejolt.org or Shields, Alexandre. “Gaz Métro Facebook ( www.facebook.com/ejolt) disturbances of hyd rological and or follow tweets (@EnvJustice) to geological systems associated with commercialisera le gaz d’Anticosti…s’il stay current on latest news and drilling. y en a.” Le Devoir, Canada, 24 October, events. 2014.