Councillors pass bylaw that bans fracking in Nova Scotia county

PORT HOOD, N.S.—Municipal councillors in Nova Scotia’s Inverness County have passed a bylaw that bans hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.

Deputy warden Dwayne MacDonald was the only councillor to vote against the bylaw at the council meeting in Port Hood.

Hydraulic fracturing for gas and oil involves using chemically treated water under extreme pressure to fracture rock and extract natural gas.

Earlier this year, a Nova Scotia cabinet minister said the bylaw was moot because the province isn’t issuing permits for fracking and is conducting a technical and policy review of the practice.

Service Nova Scotia Minister John MacDonell also said the bylaw would not supersede provincial authority over mineral rights.

He said his department is responsible for administering the Municipal Government Act, and that gives the council no authority to make law in areas of provincial jurisdiction.