The Answer is Coal, What Was the Question?

Alberta’s Flawed Coal Policy Review

Lorne Fitch, P. Biol.

There’s one sure-fire way to anger Albertans—promise us one thing and then renege on the promise.

In the midst of the rage over an extremely ill-considered plan to throw open the Eastern Slopes for coal mining we were promised an independent process to provide advice to government on the future of coal. Lorne Fitch raises concerns about the current approach to consultation and argues that the process must include wide-ranging issues related to land use, water quantity and quality and other areas of major concern to Albertans. Read the full article here.

Open Letter to Political Leaders re: Grassy Mountain

By Allan Garbutt

In an open letter to Federal Environment Minister, Jonathan Wilson, local resident Allan Garbutt expresses his concerns that a federal Government which professes to believe in the importance of combatting climate change, of protecting endangered species, and which is charged with keeping its citizens safe and healthy, has allowed a proposal for a new coal mine to progress to the point of being the subject of a Joint Review Panel. He says the very idea of a new coal mine violates all the points in the previous sentence. Read the full letter here .

Should Alberta open the Oldman Watershed to open-pit coal mining?

By David McIntyre

The Oldman watershed provides essential water to more than 200,000 Albertans. Should this already overcommitted watershed have open-pit coal mining added to its litany of woes?

In this article, long-time resident and area advocate, David McIntyre explains his opposition to open-pit coal mines in the headwaters of the Oldman stating he is “convinced these proposed projects fail to serve society; pose known and obvious health and welfare threats; needlessly degrade the environment and its life-sustaining gift of clear, clean water; and effectively kill all other economic options within a region—The Crown of the Continent—characterized by world-class beauty and open-vista intrigue.”

Price Of Progress

By Monica Field

I have watched, for years, as destructive land-use practices and development expanded through the headwaters of the Oldman River, and wondered: Have we lost our sense of gratitude and reverence for our rivers? Have they become nothing more than a low-value commodity, a resource to be squandered until they cease to exist? This is how we, as a society, seem to feel, and it’s how our government acts when addressing industrial and other land-degrading applications. 

Read the full article here.

Resource Decisions in a Crisis—Cut, Drill and Dig Baby

by Lorne Fitch, Professional Biologist

Lorne Fitch raises concerns about recent government decisions that he believes are unravelling critical environmental policies and regulations, with long term lasting consequences for Albertans and the environment. Read the full article here.

Gold Creek on Grassy Mountain mine site