NDP bill to protect Alberta Rockies from coal mining dies in legislature committee
Posted Mar 22, 2022 1:13 pm.
Last Updated Mar 22, 2022 5:41 pm.
A private member’s bill that looked to block all coal mining in the province’s Rocky Mountains died in the legislature after government members voted against it.
The bill, sponsored by Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley, was blocked by a committee that decides which private member’s bills proceed.
t’s clear today that the (United Conservative Party) is still reserving the right to tear apart our beautiful Alberta mountains and poison our water supply with coal mining,” Notley said in a release. “That’s what killing this bill achieved.”
Jason Kenney is relying on Albertans to blindly trust him with zero transparency or oversight. The entire history of this issue shows that Albertans cannot trust the UCP to protect the Eastern Slopes from coal mining.
We need a legislated ban to protect our Rockies. #ableg
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) March 22, 2022
Six members of the United Conservative Party government voted against allowing the bill to move to second reading, despite having voted in its favour when it was introduced last spring.
Since then, Energy Minister Sonya Savage has blocked coal development on those landscapes with a ministerial order she has promised not to withdraw.
Related article: Coal development in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains sees pause extended following public consultations
Notley has said that’s not enough protection and the order can be withdrawn any time at the minister’s discretion.
“The UCP has already proven they can’t be trusted to protect our mountains,” said NDP energy Critic Kathleen Ganley earlier this month. “They already opened up the Rockies for open pit coal mining with the stroke of a pen, and they could do it again under this plan.”
Coal mining in the Rockies has been a hot topic in Alberta for two years, ever since the United Conservative government revoked the policy that had protected those summits and foothills since 1976.
Thousands of hectares were quickly leased for exploration, but a public outcry forced the government to halt those activities and pause lease sales until the panel reported.
