The New Brunswick government is proposing 116 different changes to the regulatory framework that oversees the oil and gas industry and in particular the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing.

Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup and Environment Minister Bruce Fitch unveiled the changes to the rules governing the oil and gas industry in the legislative assembly on Thursday May 31, 2012.

The new changes include overhauling the royalty framework that would ensure more money flows into the provincial coffers and is sent to property owners and communities where mining activity is taking place.
Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup says he’d like the rules to be in place for 2013.

The new provincial regulations will set out strict rules on protecting the environment.

Natural gas companies will also be subject to higher fines if they break the rules.

The province’s natural gas study group described many of the changes as “leading edge environmental standards for oil and gas activities.”

Northrup said the provincial government has time to get the regulatory framework in place.

“Not a lot of activity will take place this year and to my knowledge there will be no fracking done in the province this year,” Northrup told reporters on Thursday.

'We are going at a pace that is just right for the activity in the province.'—Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup

“We are going at a pace that is just right for the activity in the province.”

The provincial government is opening up the proposed changes for public debate. Citizens have until July 18 to submit their comments.

Northrup said he’d like the rules to be in place for 2013.

The provincial government will hold a public engagement tour in June to discuss the proposals and the revenue-sharing structure.