It remains a controversial issue but some in government say we can't afford not to explore the options on shale gas.
Energy Minister Craig Leonard says there's no reason not to go ahead--and adds the idea drilling will industrialize rural New Brunswick is false, because drilling 50 gas wells would only cover about a kilometer of land.
Leonard says when we have a shortage of cheap, domestic natural gas it makes sense to capitalize on our reserves--which we know to be at least 80 trillion cubic feet.