Share Alberta reversed course on its plans to allow for surface coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rockies earlier this week, but that doesn't mean the region won't face any pressure from coal developments. Photo: Shutterstock Explainer 9 things that haven’t changed since Alberta’s about-face on coal mining policy The United Conservative Party was backed into a corner on its decision to open up the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to open-pit mines. But it hasn't completely abandoned its push to allow more coal projects in the province 9 min read let’s-see-if-we-can-slip-this-one-past-them coal policy change last May.