December 11, 2011

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

Attention: Prime Minister Stephen Harper

I am writing this letter in support of the Assembly of First Nation Chiefs of Canada in their request for a moratorium on hydraulic –fracturing for oil and gas,

On December 07, 2011; a special Assembly of First Nations Chiefs passed a resolution #24 that calls for the Federal government to investigate and take immediate action concerning the hydraulic fracturing by oil and gas companies in Canada.

Resolution #24

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs-in-Assembly:

1. Direct the Assembly of First Nations to call upon federal government to conduct, starting immediately, comprehensive and objective research, with guidance and oversight by First Nations, on the short and long-term impacts of hydraulic fracturing, including:

          a. The impacts on water resources with respect to the amount of water that is required for fracturing operations;

          b. The impacts to ground and surface water with respect to the chemicals used in fracturing operations, the contaminated water that is produced in fracturing operations and how the contaminated water is treated and stored;

          c. The impacts of fracturing operations on human health.

2. Direct the Assembly of First Nations to require the federal government to consult with First Nations across Canada on hydraulic fracturing operations, including providing First Nations with comprehensive information on hydraulic fracturing so First Nations are in a position to provide free, prior and informed consent to these operations.

3. Direct the Assembly of First Nations to seek resources from the federal government directly to First Nations and supportive organizations in Canada so they may educate their constituents on and consult with their constituents on hydraulic fracturing in order to be in a position to provide free, prior and informed consent to these operations.

4. Direct the Assembly of First Nations to request the federal government implement an immediate moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas until First Nations have the proper information on these operations, including the aforementioned research, and have given free, prior and informed consent to hydraulic fracturing operations.

Signature:

Date:

CC:

National Chief Shawn Atleo

Assembly of First Nations

Trebla Building
473 Albert Street
Suite 900
Ottawa, ON K1R 5B4

Premier David Alward

Province of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, N.B.
Canada E3B 5H1