New Coal Development is a Bad Deal for Alberta 

The legislature is back in session, and now is the time to remind our elected officials that Albertans do not want new coal development in the Rocky Mountains. CPAWS Southern and Northern Alberta encourage Albertans to write to their MLA, the Minister of Energy and Minerals, and the Premier with a new letter highlighting the serious financial and environmental risks associated with renewed coal development in Alberta, particularly in light of recent legal settlements and ongoing development by foreign coal companies.

Coal is a BAD deal for Alberta and, Albertans’ water and wallets are on the line. The letter asks elected officials to:

1. Reinstate the moratorium on new coal exploration and development in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes until a new coal policy is developed, based on full-cost economics and public and Indigenous consultation, to avoid further liabilities.

2. Advocate for full transparency in all settlements with coal companies.

3. Ensure the new Coal Industry Modernization Initiative or any other new coal policy or legislation aligns with the Coal Policy Committee reports and public consultation results to restrict all new coal development across Alberta’s Eastern Slopes in perpetuity, to create regulatory and financial certainty.

4. To ensure a level playing field, any new policy needs to apply equally to all projects, and no individual project or company, including Northback’s Grassy Mountain and Valory’s Blackstone projects, should be exempt from industry-wide restrictions.

Whether it’s the coal dust, soil erosion, water pollution, closed access to public lands, or the particulate matter entering our air, soil and water, Albertans across the political spectrum agree: Coal makes for a bad neighbour. It also makes for a bad investment — the economics simply don’t add up.

The Government of Alberta MUST develop a coal policy that protects Albertans and our future. The proposed Coal Industry Modernization Initiative (CIMI) is being developed without consideration of Alberta’s values. It has only consulted coal mine industry insiders and has ignored public consultation.

Over the past five years, Albertans have been loud and clear that they oppose ANY new coal exploration or mining in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains and Eastern Slopes, yet the government continues to push its coal agenda forward.

We encourage Albertans to send a letter now asking for a coal policy that reflects the will of Albertans and prevents any new destructive coal mining.