Protestors push back at Northback presentation
By Lethbridge Herald on December 9, 2025.
HERALD PHOTO BY JOE MANIO
Approximately 70-100 demonstrators gathered outside the Coast Hotel Monday to demonstrate against the proposed Grassy Mountain coal mine project while inside, Northback Holdings CEO Mike Young spoke about the economic benefits of the project at a Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce event there.Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Outside the Coast Lethbridge Hotel around 100 demonstrators waved signs, beat drums and shouted slogans protesting the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project while inside the CEO of Northback Holdings, Mike Young, spoke about the economic benefits of the project during a Chamber of Commerce event there Monday.
After the event, Industry Development Vice-President, Rina Blacklaws, with the with the Coal Association of Canada, reiterated the economic benefits of the project.
“When it comes to mining jobs 10,000 different Canadians and their families are reliant on coal mining jobs here in Canada,” says“And there’s also an effect when it comes to indirect jobs and how that affects local communities and the economy.
“Projects like this and others that the province is evaluating have the opportunity to provide a responsible resource that the world needs, which is steelmaking coal, needed to make steel, as well as the economics that support communities and First Nations communities.”
According to opponents, however, the environmental risks are not worth any economic benefits.
“The significant adverse environmental effects were greater than any uncertain economic benefit,” says organizer Cheryl Bradley, director of the Southern Alberta Group for Environment,. “And the city of Lethbridge has 5 times since 2020 passed resolutions opposing a mine on Grassy Mountain because of the impacts on the Old Man River and a concern about contamination of our drinking water with selenium.”
The Watershed feeds many of southern Alberta’s rivers and lakes, covering more than 23,000 square kilometres in the province. It supplies fresh water to communities and farms across the region.
Bradley says there is currently no technology that can effectively remove selenium from waterways once it has leaked into them. She also pointed to a recent report that shows wind-blown coal dust from mines in the Elk Valley have contaminated snowpacks and lakes in Alberta.
The Grassy Mountain Coal Project is a proposed large-scale, open-pit metallurgical (steelmaking) coal mine near Crowsnest Pass aiming to extract high-quality coal for export. It was previously rejected in 2021 by Alberta and the federal government due to significant environmental and Indigenous concerns.
Northback is trying again, getting approval for limited exploration in 2025 while still needing full mine approvals which remain contested and complex, with ongoing environmental opposition. The project remains under review by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).
However, opponents have numerous environmental questions which they say are not being properly addressed or answered by Northback. Chris Spearman, spoeksman for the group Water Fod Food, attended the Chamber event as a concerned citizen.
“I’m not opposed to economic development, but when they are reluctant to provide answers, that just raises suspicions. says former mayor Chris Spearman. I think Northback would do themselves a lot of favors (if they would just provide answers).”
Spearman says he spent 18 months trying to get answers to his concerns through Northback’s processes but got referred to AER. He still didn’t get any answers from Young during the Chamber event.
The environmental risks associated with coal mining primarily involve long-term water contamination, permanent landscape changes and biodiversity loss that persist for decades or centuries; often despite current regulations and reclamation efforts..
Public feedback is currently being accepted, and you can do that by visiting aer.ca
“I think it’s important that the community get involved and make sure that people are informed and keep asking your questions and avail yourselves of the opportunities. The date that everybody has to submit any further questions they have is January the 16th, 2026. There’s only five weeks to inform yourselves and submit your question to the Alberta Energy Regulator,” says Spearman.
18-17
Northback did not allow any press into this pr stunt and the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce agreed. Shame on both of you. This suggests to me that the COC supports the Grassy Mtn mine as any economic benefit overrides the watershed contamination that would result. Both show their greed and Northback has doubled down by suing Alberta govt for billions of taxpayer dollars.