FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's Opposition Liberals say a report on the health effects of the shale gas industry prepared by the province's chief medical officer of health must be released immediately.

Liberal health critic Bill Fraser says people need to be able to make an informed decision.

Dr. Eilish Cleary has issued recommendations on how the provincial government can track the health effects of the shale gas industry.

But the government isn't saying if, or when, it will make those recommendations public and Dr. Cleary isn't giving interviews on the issue.

Tracey Burkhardt, a spokeswoman for the province's Health Department, says Cleary's findings will be shared within the government as it tries to determine how the shale gas industry would be regulated if it is further developed.

Fraser says that by holding back the report the government is creating speculation and fear for the public.