Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup says his department has discovered a third case of unauthorized shale gas exploration.

Northrup filed one complaint to the RCMP after Windsor Energy conducted seismic testing in Sussex without the town’s approval.

A second case was recently reported where SWN Resources Canada went forward with testing in Upper MIramichi without the municipality’s approval.

Northrup told the legislative assembly on Thursday that a third case has been uncovered. Northrup said Windsor Energy also went forward with unauthorized exploration in August in Quispamsis.

"While unintentional, I view these incidents as serious and I raised this matter with members of the oil and natural gas industry when I met with them yesterday. I wish to assure New Brunswickers that all companies exploring for or developing oil and natural gas reserves must obey our laws and we will ensure these laws are adequate and enforced," Northrup told the legislature.

"The rules we have in place, and those now being developed to strengthen our regulatory framework, are intended to protect our people and our environment."

Liberal MLA Denis Landry said the three incidents underscore the case for his party’s demand for a moratorium on shale gas exploration and a special committee to discuss the future of the industry in New Brunswick.

Landry said he doubts these incidents were unintentional, as companies claim.

"They know the law. They should know the law. They have all kinds of people working for them who can find that out. And they went there and just did it. Unintentional? I don't believe that at all," Landry said Thursday.