CALGARY As public outcry grows over the dramatic expansion of coal leases along the previously protected foothills, Energy Minister Sonya Savage tried to ease tensions this week. But critics say the announcement affects a tiny fraction of the more than 400,000 hectares opened to strip mining last May. The change in policy removes nearly 45 years of protection under the Alberta Coal Policy of 1976. “It means nothing,” says High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass, speaking about the cancellation of 11 leases sold in December. “People that aren t watching that are mad about this. That s what this is, a play to get everything to calm down.
Alberta cancels coal leases, pauses future sales, as opposition increases - Canada News castanet.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from castanet.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Meanwhile, signatures on two petitions on Facebook opposing the UPC government’s pro-coal mining moves surged past 100,000.
Last March, at the beginning of the pandemic, the Jason Kenney government quietly revoked the province’s 44-year-old Coal Policy.
The visionary policy, created by former premier Peter Lougheed after extensive public consultation, said most of the eastern slopes of the Rockies should remain off limits to mountain-top removal in order to protect water security, wildlife and the area’s beauty.
Kenney’s axing of the policy immediately opened up 1.5 million hectares of the Rockies for coal development, including the headwaters of major rivers in the South and North Saskatchewan river basins.
Alberta cancels coal leases as opposition increases bnnbloomberg.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bnnbloomberg.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.