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Alberta halts coal exploration on Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains.
(Image by Akiroq, Pixabay).
After receiving feedback from 25,000 people, the Canadian province of Alberta decided to halt all coal exploration projects on Category 2 lands, which cover a 90,000-square-kilometre area on the eastern slopes and Foothills of the southern part of the Rocky Mountains.
Public feedback was provided via an online survey that ran from March 29 to April 19, 2021.
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“An initial review of the results illustrates that many Albertans have significant concerns about coal exploration,” the Ministry of Energy said in a media statement. “Based on this insight, the Coal Policy Committee – an independent group appointed to lead comprehensive public engagement to inform the development of a modern coal policy – has recommended to the government that coal exploration in Category 2 lands be suspended.”
Coal exploration halted on Category 2 lands
In response to concerns raised by Albertans, including those who participated in a recent online survey, Alberta’s government is immediately halting all coal exploration projects in Category 2 lands.
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Almost 25,000 Albertans from across the province shared feedback to help inform the next steps of the coal policy engagement through an online survey from March 29 to April 19.
An initial review of the results illustrates that many Albertans have significant concerns about coal exploration. Based on this insight, the Coal Policy Committee – an independent group appointed to lead comprehensive public engagement to inform the development of a modern coal policy – has recommended to the government that coal exploration in Category 2 lands be suspended.
Today s action by the Kenney government is a betrayal of these Albertans.
Notley had asked the legislature to push the proposed legislation up the agenda to be debated on Monday night.
She said the debate was needed because drilling and road-building are going ahead on the eastern slopes of the mountains even as the United Conservative government says it s gathering public feedback on coal mines. The fact is, this is urgent, Notley told the legislature. We want to provide a forum for that discussion to be heard in this house.
The bill calls for cancellation of leases that were issued after the government scrapped a policy last May that protected a vast swath of summits and foothills along the western spine of the province.
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Local MLA Roger Reid says his job is to present the views of all Livingstone-Macleod residents on the issue of coal development along the Eastern Slopes.
On April 9, a small group of Foothills residents, including some Nanton residents, held up signs in Nanton opposing coal development along the Eastern Slopes. They set up along Highway 2 southbound, near the Tim Hortons restaurant owned by Reid and his wife.
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