Cameltrader,

Actually the government is in a hurry to exploit the resource...and if it weren't for them handling the shale gas topic improperly and a lot of bad press from the states, it'd be going on right now. I thought like an Albertan in that drilling shale is so normal, but in Quebec they just don't know and media really didn't help educate people. If the government launched into this back in 2008 when Forest first announced their results, it'd be done by now. Frankly, you can use the argument of "well nothing is proven in Quebec". This is completely true. Drilling has to go on in order for a study to take place, and for the government to better get a feel for the numbers of how this will affect their revenues, future budget etc. The details of this is what has to be worked out between the government and the industry...I highly doubt the SEA is going to be comprised of people that think like a complete environmentalist that is saying no at all costs. This is still the same government that wants this 100%, and I see them coming to a common ground here. They're not in the business of driving away the industry, it only gives the province a bad image and companies won't be coming in for future business. I don't know about laws for leases etc, but I'm sure something can be done if it comes to that point.

They are giving the people what they want...a study to put their minds at ease about the environmental effects of shale while letting them complete their pilot. Even the BAPE encourages them to allow them to keep drilling so that the economic numbers on how profitable this will be for them come into play. Second, they just annouced a royalty regime that took months of work on the part of the minister of finance. All the steps are in place for them to move forward.

This is an environmental study that is first and foremost about science and facts. Politicians I doubt will have a place on the committee...they know zero about science and they're not trained for that.

As the Canadian natural gas association member said, Canada has one of the best records for drilling for gas and science will prove this. It already has proven it to the rest of Canada for decades, why would science be different in Quebec.