Pass mine vote should not supersede regulatory approvals

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Vauxhall Advance

Dear Editor: 

On Nov. 25, 1957 of the 6007 eligible Crowsnest Pass residents voted in favour of Northback’s Grassy Mountain open-pit coal mining project. This referendum excluded the 2416 taxpayers not living there full-time. This result will be used by the Crowsnest Pass MD to lobby support from the UCP government for the mine. The MD of Ranchlands, where the mine would be built, is adamantly opposed and due in court in 2025 to have Northback’s project application revoked.

In 2021, the UCP Government canvased provincially with 72 per cent of 25,000 respondents saying NO to coal mining; it would have a detrimental impact on water and the environment. 62 per cent said that, economically, coal industry revenues for the province didn’t warrant the probability for environmental damage. Also in 2021, the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) concluded that the project would contaminate the Oldman watershed with selenium and other heavy metals. The project was subsequently not approved by Ministerial Order. 

With complete disregard, in 2022, Premier Smith stated that her government would support the mine if Crowsnest pass residents supported the mine. Clearly, 1957 “Yes” voters for a proven environmentally damaging project should not hold much sway over something that will negatively impact the water quantity and quality for downstream aquatic and terrestrial life and for over 200,000 Albertans for a very long time. Not to mention the potentially catastrophic impacts on agriculture. This is a decision for all Albertans to make. Premier Smith would do well to respect this, but not likely. 

In 2024 Energy Minister, Brian Jean inappropriately wrote a letter to influence the AER who, supposedly operate at arm’s length from Government and who have project approval authority. Jean said the Grassy Mountain proposal should be considered “an advanced project,” and exempt it from the 2022 ministerial order. The AER complied. 

With fair winds from the Alberta Government and AER in their sails, Northback expended considerable effort to influence a “Vote Yes” campaign. They hosted locals in pubs and cafes, orchestrated a door knocking campaign, funded a school lunch program and who knows what else! Apparently, a back room deal for an un-used water allocation was in the mix as well. A slick and likely expensive media blitz was created by the Citizens Supportive of Crowsnest Coal whose money trail leads to the well-funded oil and gas corporate lobby: Energy United.

The ball is your court, keep an eye on Smith’s government. They must not use a mere 1957 pro-coal votes to support such as destructive industry. And please don’t blame the residents wishing for a better future; I just wish the government would divert their pro-coal resources into developing a sustainable local economy for the deserving people of Crowsnest Pass. 

Peter Jowett, 

Fort Macleod