Coal petition hits the brakes ­for now

By Lethbridge Herald on December 16, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The citizen’s petition to stop any new coal mines from opening on the Eastern Slopes, organized by country singer Corb Lund, has been cancelled due to the implementation of Bill 14.

Lund says he was informed of the cancellation of his petition on Friday morning, just five days after it was approved.

He adds he was under the understanding that Premier Danielle Smith was in support of citizen-initiated referendums.

“Our premier said that it is really important that people have their say and that the rules our out there and that she will watch with great interest, so I guess the rules weren’t ‘out there.’”

While he believes the behaviour demonstrated by the government is disappointing and fundamentally unfair, Lund is ready to get back in the saddle and try again.

“We will continue and reapply for a new petition and fill out as many forms as we have to, to allow the voices of Albertans to be heard to stop coal mining in the headwaters of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.”

With multiple potential mining operations in the works, including Mine 14 in Grand Cache, Blackstone mine in the Bighorn region and Northback reopening Grassy Mountain, Lund says the momentum for the citizens’ petition against coal has been gaining support across the province.

While signatures and canvassers can’t be gathered at the time Lund encourages Albertans to express their interest in being involved by visiting the newly launched website www.coalpetition.ca