New Brunswick fracking review sparks heated Sussex meeting

Opponents and supporters of shale-gas development faced off Tuesday at New Brunswick's first public meeting on possibly lifting a 12-year fracking moratorium. More than 100 people filled the Sussex Lions Club as Natural Resources Minister John Herron urged dialogue while residents traded claims about jobs, cancer risk and climate impacts. Neighbours with wells on their farms disagreed sharply over safety. Premier Susan Holt has set a January deadline after creating working groups and First Nations roundtables. Officials collected questionnaires and one-on-one feedback, but no further public meetings have been announced and many speakers demanded a public referendum before any change.