Lethbridge people must unite over coal mining impacts
By Lethbridge Herald on February 20, 2026.
It’s overwhelming. Politicians on the far right have many names for it, “flooding the zone” or “manufactured crisis” but it is really about creating so much chaos that media and especially the electorate can’t keep up. Sound familiar?
Countless subjects requiring our undivided attention. Alberta’s healthcare system devolving into a private/public quagmire, separation talk, Trump’s petulant attention diversion tantrums and the horror in Tumbler Ridge, unspeakable grief.
My sincere condolences to all the families impacted, no parent should ever bury a child, there are simply no words.
While you hug your own children closer, or maybe call your kids more, I humbly ask one more thing.
Corb Lund’s Citizen Initiated Referendum is now live and like it or not, Lethbridge and all of us downstream of proposed coal mines in the Eastern Slopes need to act now. Lethbridge must be united in its opposition to coming impacts to southern Alberta’s water.
The location of the proposed Grassy Mountain coal mine is the key issue. Physical damage is being done daily, reducing our watersheds ability to generate clean water and that’s nothing compared to what is going to occur if Northback is allowed to proceed. Google search Elk Valley water and Teck, because that’s exactly what will happen to remaining water escaping Grassy Mountain.
Our west winds will carry airborne contamination for miles, all this for nearly nothing in terms of royalties. A couple hundred jobs threatening thousands of downstream lives and livelihoods, all to save the UCP reputation.
Over two- thirds of Albertans don’t want coal mines, yet here we are. The UCP dropped the rules inviting foreign coal speculators to buy coal leases. The UCP have paid off several of these shell companies, $250,000,000 of our tax dollars thus far and Grassy Mountain remains a hold out, almost as if they know something we don’t know.
Please contact: https://www.coalpetition.ca/ for details on how you can help.
Donate or volunteer to sign Albertans up, we require 177,732 signatures and as Lethbridge is the epicenter of the threat, Lethbridge must carry the mail for this important issue.
Please volunteer to sign people up to this worthwhile cause. Donate what you can. Talk to family and friends in Alberta and get them involved.
We can’t stop Trump’s rhetoric, and we can’t undo the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge but we can stop moronic assumptions threatening our water.
Please act now.
Blaine Moen,
Pincher Creek
16-15
Show that u do not want any mining on the eastern slopes by voting today (Feb 20) 4-8 pm at Japanese gardens.
Great comments Blaine. While these Reformers won’t take no for an answer they keep pushing this stupidity trying to get Albertans to finally give in and allow it to happen. Wouldn’t you like to know what’s in it for them?
While Smith keep whining about wanting to waste billions more of taxpayers dollars on building more pipelines oilmen point out that if they we’re collecting proper royalties, like Lougheed did, and Norway and Alaska are there would be no need for them. That’s how stupid they are isn’t it.