"The Canadian province of Quebec has moved from a de facto ban on shale gas development to a complete and total moratorium after a report issued by a special body.
A committee named by Quebec Environment Minister Pierre Arcand to determine whether shale gas can be extracted while respecting the environment released plans Tuesday for further study and recommended the minister not authorize hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, even for research purposes during an ongoing halt in development, The Calgary Herald reported.
Arcand, in announcing the strategic environmental assessment last May, had said fracking would be allowed for research purposes."...........................
