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Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Alberta Premier grilled on province's coal policy at rowdy, angry town hall
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful on Wednesday night from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province's coal policy. About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause and placards. 'If we are not prepared to look and find middle-ground solutions to allow for industries to proceed while reducing our environmental footprint, you're going to find that different industries become the next on the hit list,' Smith said through a chorus of protesting voices and verbal jabs. 'Banning industries is just not something we are going to do.' The premier and her ministers of energy, environment and agriculture took questions and were shouted down on several occasions by attendees as they defended changes to the province's coal policy. Many in the crowd held small placards reading 'lie' and 'false,' raising them each time they disagreed with a statement. There was a notable group that came in support of the province's coal policy, frequently applauding the ministers and shooting back at other crowd members. Many attendees carried notebooks and pens, keenly taking notes throughout. The town hall came weeks after the Alberta Energy Regulator, or AER, granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Northback Holding Corp.'s project at Grassy Mountain was initially rejected in 2021 when a panel ruled that the likely environmental effects on fish and water quality outweighed the potential economic benefits. Alberta regulator approves controversial coal exploration applications at Grassy Mountain Late last year, the project was exempted from the Alberta government's decision to ban open-pit coal mines because Northback's application was considered an 'advanced' proposal. The issue has been polarizing in southern Alberta, where the debate has primarily revolved around the economic implications of development against environmental effects. A non-binding referendum in Crowsnest Pass saw 70 per cent of voters saying they'd support the nearby coal project. Despite frequent pushback over the two-and-a-half-hour event, Smith rarely chose to get into back-and-forth discussions with attendees. She defended the province's approach to coal developments, pitching responsible development that prioritizes environmental standards. Smith also frequently cited a lawsuit by five coal companies that say they're owed $15 billion by the province in lost revenues and sunk costs. She argued again on Wednesday that she had taxpayers in mind when the province lifted its moratorium on coal mining and development on the eastern slopes. 'If we do nothing, then we are told we'll likely lose those cases and have to pay ($15 billion).' An energetic Brian Jean, the province's energy minister, frequently challenged the boisterous crowd and at times trotted offstage to hand his business card to those asking questions. 'I live in the oilsands. You can't tell me what I'm concerned about and what I'm not concerned about. I'm very concerned about our earth and our planet,' he said. Coal mines on Alberta's eastern slopes are poisoning fish populations, study says Several questions returned to a new study by Alberta government scientists, yet to be peer reviewed, which recently said old coal mines on the eastern slopes are poisoning fish and any further coal mining there would result in 'population collapse' of fish species in a nearby lake. Asked about the report, Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said the province is looking into the issue and is waiting for it to be confirmed by the peer-review process. She said further studies to be released later this year are being conducted. 'We want to understand what is happening there so that we can prevent that from happening in the future.' The premier also jousted with protesters while speaking to reporters before the town hall. When a group gathered behind her and started yelling, she turned around and asked them to let her finish the interview. 'I'm looking for a little bit of courtesy,' she said. The event was scheduled to last two hours, but Smith asked to take questions for an extra 30 minutes after the clock had run out.
Calgary Herald
20-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta won't allow open-pit mines, pleasing environmental groups
Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta won't allow open-pit mines, a stance that has drawn praise from environmental groups. Article content Article content Smith, speaking Saturday on her weekend radio show, said the province has heard 'loud and clear' that Albertans do not want to mountaintop removal or strip mining. Article content 'They're concerned that when you do that, it exposes the rock face to when it rains, selenium getting into the water system. So we've put a policy in place — you can't do these things,' said Alberta's premier. Article content Article content 'You can't do open pit mining, you can't do strip mining, but if you can find techniques that allow you to do new underground mining, then we're going to be open to approving those projects.' Article content Article content On Thursday, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) approved Northback Holding's applications for a coal exploration program, deep drilling permit and temporary water diversion licence at Grassy Mountain, on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Article content 'My understanding is that the AER just approved some test well site drilling for Northback at Grassy Mountain to allow them to see if they have the ability to do that underground mining. Article content 'You have to be at a certain depth to make it profitable, and I'm just going to watch and see the outcome of that.' Article content The premier also said she hopes that people would have an open mind about mining and that minerals in the ground need to be extracted 'for our own collective prosperity.' Article content Article content 'If you're going to have the new economy, you're going to have to dig out of the ground the things you need for that,' said Smith. Article content 'You can't build wind turbines without steel. Steel comes from coal. You cannot build the polysilicon panels for solar panels without coal. You cannot build batteries without zinc and copper and all the other rare earth elements that you need to dig out of the ground. Article content 'So I understand that people are concerned about it, but do know that we've got to find the balance. We've got to be able to extract things and also be able to do it in a way that limits the impact on the environment. We're all trying to find the pathway.' Article content
