Pass pro-mining vote makes upcoming Lethbridge West byelection interesting
By Lethbridge Herald on November 27, 2024.
Editor:
The residents of Crowsnest Pass, in a non-binding referendum, have just voted in favor of the Grassy Mountain coal project.
The town council of High River, meanwhile, has just sent a letter to the Premier’s office, unanimously urging Premier Smith to listen to wider Albertan voices on this issue.
I was one of ten Calgarians together with 400 rural folks in the Nanton Community Hall three weeks ago to hear a diverse panel voicing concerns about Grassy Mountain.
It seems to me that Lethbridge, with your water coming from the Oldman River, would be greatly concerned about a thirsty coal mine using up hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of water.
And do Lethbridge residents have any concerns about selenium pollution in the river? Across the border in B.C., the highly-experienced and well-resourced mining giant Glencore has spent $1.4 billion on water treatment, yet they fail to capture all the selenium.
The U.S. Geological Survey has voiced concerns that this may pose risks to aquatic life in the Columbia River, which crosses over into the States. Selenium also becomes more concentrated as it moves up the food chain into fish and anything that eats the fish.
Lethbridge may have the loudest vote of any Alberta community on this issue. The recently called by-election for a new MLA in Lethbridge-West will be seen as a question of confidence in the UCP, who have been paving the way for the Australia-based Northback Holdings to move forward with mountaintop removal at Grassy Mountain. I’m very curious to see how Lethbridge votes.
Roger Gagne
Calgary
11-10
I owe my soul to the company store.
Really, what did one expect from people who tear up the headwaters with their off-road toys?
Instead of returning us to the past and ignoring Lougheed’s concern about our water supply and the $60 million lawsuit Coal Tech has already faced for polluting water in B.C. you would think that the citizens of Crowsnest would be more interested in creating a factory to build Solar Panels for their children’s future, but they don’t care.
Roger is correct the people of Lethbridge had better be concerned.
These UCP Reformers had no business opening up this can of worms that conservative Lougheed was so concerned about, so why did their supporters let them?
The lawsuits from citizens living downstream could be huge for Alberta taxpayers to face as lawyers point out.
You would be fools to elect another one of these Reformers when so many Albertans are concerned about what they are doing to us.
It’s obvious that they are trying to force us into a privatized healthcare and education systems isn’t it? They show no concern for the well-being of the people like our hero Peter Lougheed did.
Filling the pockets of their Reform Party pals like Stephen Harper, Preston Manning, Jim Dinning, Lyle Oberg and Pierre Poilievre is far more important.
Just a small problem there Fed Up. The same people trying to stand in the way (12 of them at a protest in Calgary) would have nothing to with the mining or the transport for the following. They would agree with the mining if it were NIMBY but then would sound the alarm of the transport methods to the CNP assembly facility
https://blog.ucsusa.org/charlie-hoffs/mining-raw-materials-for-solar-panels-problems-and-solutions/
To prove what a loser you are and while you ignore the fact that Europe, China and the Alberta Solar Panel Field at Lamond have no problem finding supplies you would rather believe someone who wants to make it look like a dumb idea , just like you do, right?
Facts bother you to the point of insulting people. China lol
Why don’t you be a hero and get yourself educated. China has the largest solar panel field in the world. Apparently you didn’t bother to google it before you attacked me did you?
Attack you. lol you’re funny. Yeh and China is the largest polluter in the world along with India.
Don’t remember hearing much from certain groups when there was fracking going on within city limits on the westside,right by the Oldman river. The company needed the water from the river for their operation. The NDP were elected in West Lethbridge for at least 2 terms when the fracking was operating. The company closed down for business reasons on their own within the last year or so. Someone from city hall and at least some of the current councilors approved this,no?Can’t believe this company didn’t need some type of approval?
You obviously were not aware of the many meetings whereby those opposed (including myself) made oral arguments against (“Golden Key”) in 2013. There were enhanced plans to expand fracking bordering on city limits. They shut down in part , because of local and vocal opposition .
You got it right it was the public out cry that got it stopped and it’s my understanding that the NDP had nothing to do with it.