Editing Anticosti Island (section)

==Utica Shale==
{{main|Utica Shale}}

The Utica Shale, a [[Stratigraphy|stratigraphical]] unit of [[Middle Ordovician]] [[Geochronology|age]] that is potentially rich in shale gas reserves,<ref>{{citation |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=92251&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1124217&highlight= |work=Forest Oil Corporation |title=Press Releases and Notices}}</ref> underlies the Anticosti Islands and extends to surrounding areas in [[Quebec]], [[Ontario]] and much of northeastern United States.<ref name=lexicon>{{Cite web|url=http://cgkn1.cgkn.net/weblex/weblex_litho_detail_e.pl?00053:015717 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221081406/http://cgkn1.cgkn.net/weblex/weblex_litho_detail_e.pl?00053:015717 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2013 |title=Utica Shale |author=[[Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units]] |access-date=1 February 2010 }}</ref> On February 8, 2011, the citizen group "Non au Pétrole et au Gaz au Québec" released one of the biggest petitions in Quebec history against fracking in the province of Quebec with 128,000 signatures thinking it would prevent the oil and gas exploration on Anticosti.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/actualites-salle-presse/conferences-points-presse/ConferencePointPresse-6555.html|title=Point de presse de M. Amir Khadir, député de Mercier et de M. Scott McKay, porte-parole de l'opposition officielle en matière de mines - Assemblée nationale du Québec|website=www.assnat.qc.ca|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> In June 2011, the Quebec firm Pétrolia claimed to have discovered about 30 billion [[Barrel (unit)#Oil barrel|barrels]] of [[Petroleum|oil]] on the island of Anticosti, which is the first time that significant reserves have been found in the province.<ref>{{cite web   | last = Proulx   | first = André   | title = Petrolia: First Resource Assessment of Macasty Shale, Anticosti Island, Quebec    | publisher = Marketwire
  | date=June 2011   | url = http://www.marketwatch.com/story/petrolia-first-resource-assessment-of-macasty-shale-anticosti-island-quebec-2011-06-29-81120?reflink=MW_news_stmp
  | access-date = 29 June 2011}}</ref>

In February 2014, Premier of Quebec [[Pauline Marois]] announced that the provincial government would help finance two exploratory shale gas operations as a prelude to [[hydraulic fracturing]] on the island, with the province pledging $115-million to finance drilling for two separate joint ventures in exchange for rights to 50% of the licences and 60% of any commercial profit.<ref name="CG_2014">{{citation |series=Energy Rich |title=Quebec Utica shale gas |work=[[Canadian Geographic]] |first1=Karan |last1=Smith |first2=Michela |last2=Rosano |pages=34–40}}</ref>{{rp|37}}<ref name="Vendeville_2014">{{citation|title=Couillard rules out fracking |first=Geoffrey |last=Vendeville |location=Montreal |work=Montreal Gazette |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=2 January 2015 |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/couillard-rules-out-fracking}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/quebec-installs-outright-moratorium-hydraulic-fracturing-433930 |title=Quebec installs outright moratorium on hydraulic fracturing |work=International Business Times |date=4 April 2012}}</ref>  It was the first oil and gas deal of any size for the province.  With the change in government that occurred in April 2014, the Liberals of [[Philippe Couillard]] could change that decision.  [[Petrolia Inc.]], [[Corridor Resources]] and [[Maurel & Prom]] formed one joint-venture, while [[Junex Inc.]] was still seeking a private partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2014/04/08/quebec-oil-juniors-hopeful-new-liberal-government-will-honour-anticosti-deals/?__lsa=fce8-91bb|title=Quebec oil juniors hopeful new Liberal government will honour Anticosti deals|author=Nicolas Van Praet|date=8 April 2014|work=Financial Post|access-date=12 December 2015}}</ref>

On June 4, 2013, the citizen group "Non au Pétrole et au Gaz au Québec", realizing that fracking continued to be a viable method of oil extraction on Anticosti, released another petition that garnered 26,000 signatures against fracking, exploration and exploitation of oil and gas on Anticosti Island and asked for a moratorium and an environmental evaluation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ici.radio-canada.ca/emissions/le_monde_aujourdhui/2013-2014/chronique.asp?idChronique=296545|title=Pétition pour un moratoire sur Anticosti - Le monde aujourd'hui - ICI Radio-Canada Première|access-date=12 December 2015}}</ref> Geological engineer Marc Durand gave a presentation at a conference explaining that a minimum of 12,000 wells would be necessary for this exploitation and would put Quebec in debt, considering the 12 million dollar cost of one of these wells.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ledevoir.com/environnement/actualites-sur-l-environnement/379828/au-moins-12-000-puits-de-petrole-sur-anticosti|title=Au moins 12 000 puits de pétrole sur Anticosti|work=Le Devoir|date=4 June 2013 |access-date=12 December 2015}}</ref> A year later, when Pauline Marois announced an investment of 115 million dollars for Petrolia to continue the exploration, the same petition increased up to 36,000 signatures. The government started a BAPE (environmental evaluation) specific for Anticosti and the report, published on October 3, is in favour of creating a protected area on the island.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/amp/1922426/ile-anticosti-rapport-bape-quebec-patrimoine-mondial-unesco | title=Le BAPE dépose un rapport pour une réserve de biodiversité sur Anticosti }}</ref><ref name="Network of protected areas in Quebec" />