WOLASTOQEY TERRITORY – Weeks after promising to New Brunswickers that he wouldn’t try to frack gas without First Nations involvement, Blaine Higgs has flown to Europe and told reporters he’s willing to ignore Indigenous people in his quest to drill our land.

Higgs told business news publication All New Brunswick that he’s “just gotta find a way to move on” if First Nations don’t consent to fracking. He said New Brunswick needs should be “an energy partner to our allies in Europe” in spite of the dangers of fracking gas.

In February, Higgs said he’d only pursue gas exploration “responsibly, in partnership with First Nations.”

“Clearly, we are dealing with a mad king. There is no shortcut around a legal obligation to Indigenous consent. Higgs needs to go back to his European vacation,” said Chief Allan Polchies Jr. of Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation).

“This walk back is exactly why we said in April that we are unable to collaborate,” said Chief Ross Perley of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation).

“The oil man can not be trusted to keep his word or protect the interests of his own province over his own export ambitions,” added Chief Patricia Bernard of Matawaskiye (Madawaska First Nation).

The initial discussions between the Six Chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation, Premier Higgs and his team about natural gas included no detailed economic justification, and no response or update to long-held, scientifically-based environmental concerns of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people have about fracking.

“In the same day, Blaine Higgs and Donald Trump both promised to ‘drill baby drill.’ It’s a shocking and regressive move and Higgs didn’t even have the courage to say it on this side of the Atlantic,” said Chief Gabriel Atwin of Bilijk (Kingsclear First Nation).

“Our message to any country or company placing their energy hopes or plans in Blaine Higgs is simple: keep looking. This man has repeatedly gone back on his word and attempted to bend our own words against us. He is not a suitable partner for any sort of business,” added Chief Tim Paul of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).

“Higgs should have learned from 2013, the last time his government had frack-dreams shut down by Indigenous people. We’ll do it again, and we’ll do it with the support of New Brunswickers,” said Chief Shelley Sabattis of Welamukotuk (Oromocto First Nation).

Media contact: Logan Perley media@wolastoqey.ca