NDP vows ban coal mining in the Rockies

By Lethbridge Herald on April 25, 2023.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald

The Alberta NDP says it will permanently ban coal mining in the Rocky Mountains if elected this spring.

In a media release sent Saturday, the party said it will introduce and pass an Eastern Slopes protection act which “will effectively ban coal mining projects in the Rocky Mountains and surrounding areas.”

Kathleen Ganley, the NDP energy critic and candidate for Calgary’s Mountain View riding, said in the release her party “will protect our parks and our public lands, and the livelihoods of althe people who depend on them.

“The Eastern Slopes Protection Act will close all loopholes and give Albertans the peace of mind they deserve.”

The release said last year the NDP introduced a private member’s bill to prohibit coal mining in the Rockies but that bill never passed. “There wouldn’t be continued investment from coal companies if the UCP had firmly closed the door on mining in the province’s most beautiful landscapes and important watersheds,” said Marlin Schmidt, Alberta NDP Environment Critic and candidate for Edmonton-Gold Bar in the release. 

“We will engage Albertans and Indigenous communities in meaningful consultations about how we use the land.”

Lethbridge West MLA Shannon Phillips and and East candidate Rob Miyashiro are quoted in the release as well.

“Lethbridge continues to face unprecedented challenges across the healthcare system, and the UCP has done nothing to improve these concerns, said Miyashiro.

“Threatening our natural resources and watersheds puts our health at increased risk. We cannot stand by and let that happen,” he added.

“Every Albertan needs and deserves access to safe and clean water. Our watersheds must be protected from destructive strip mining and the harmful pollution that comes with it,” said Phillips,  who is also the party finance critic.

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