In northern BC, where much of this industry growth is happening, physicians and nurses are reporting a growing number of health concerns linked to LNG and fracking: asthma, heart problems, pregnancy complications, and some rare cancers. Some physicians have even closed their practices and moved away from the region, specifically describing their concerns about the health and community impacts of fracking. This puts even more strain on rural healthcare systems.
Despite these risks, Canada has never fully studied how LNG and fracking affect people’s health. New industry projects are moving ahead without a clear understanding of the long-term impacts on families, communities, and our healthcare system.
Our coalition of doctors, nurses, and First Nations leaders is calling on the BC government to complete a health impact assessment before approving more LNG projects. Our elected leaders should make decisions based on evidence when people’s health and lives are at stake.
Add your voice
Send a message asking BC’s leaders to require a comprehensive, cumulative, and independent health impact assessment of LNG and fracking in BC, before approving new projects. Here are two ways to send the email message (please choose one option):
Option A: ‘One-click’ fill and send
For the greatest convenience, submit your contact details below to send the email instantly to the BC premier and ministers. You’ll receive a confirmation email with a copy of your sent message. *If you are unable to submit the form, please refer to Option B to send your message manually.
Option B: Manually send an email
For the maximum impact, we recommend sending the message directly from your personal email account. This allows you to customize the message and add additional decision-makers to strengthen your voice.
- Add the BC premier, ministers, and parliamentary secretary for rural health as email recipients:
david.eby.mla@leg.bc.ca, adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca, josie.osborne.mla@leg.bc.ca, tamara.davidson.mla@leg.bc.ca, debra.toporowski.mla@leg.bc.ca - Copy and paste the following email content:
View email text
Subject line — Put health first: Assess the health impacts of LNG and fracking in B.C.
Dear Premier Eby, Ministers Osborne, Dix, and Davidson, and Parliamentary Secretary Toporowski,
I am writing to ask your government to protect health in decisions about new LNG and fracking projects in British Columbia.
Research from Canada and other countries shows that fracking and LNG activities can harm health, including through air and water pollution and added strain on nearby communities and healthcare services. Several physicians have closed their practices in regions of BC where gas extraction occurs and moved away, specifically citing their concerns about the health and community impacts of fracking.
Despite these risks, Canada has never completed a full health impact assessment of the LNG and fracking industry across the whole supply chain, from fracking, to pipelines, to export facilities.
Before new projects move ahead, people in British Columbia deserve a clear understanding of the long-term health risks and costs. That’s why the Health Officers’ Council of BC recently voted to support a health impact assessment of the BC gas industry.
I am joining hundreds of physicians and nurses in asking your government to:
- Commission a comprehensive, independent health impact assessment of LNG and fracking in BC, including cumulative impacts; and
- Pause approvals of new LNG and fracking projects and expansions until that assessment is complete and publicly released.
Please put the health of workers, families and communities first and ensure major energy decisions are based on evidence.
- Add your name/signature and contact details to the bottom of email