Corb Lund Takes the Lead Against Eastern Slopes Coal Mines

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Albertans against coal mining along the Eastern Slopes can thank their premier and a raucous town hall in Fort Macleod for a new citizen initiative calling for a ban.

Corb Lund, a Juno award-winning musician from southern Alberta, said the idea struck him June 11 when Danielle Smith proposed a next step for attendees angry over their government’s approach to the issue.

“She said, if you guys feel strongly about not having coal mines, have a citizens’ initiative for a referendum. So I put together a legal team and a team generally, and that’s what we did. We applied,” the performer, songwriter and activist said from a bench beside the legislature last Wednesday.

Lund said concerns were “in the air” that the government might rewrite policy involving recalls and referendums, prompting him to act sooner rather than later.

“I kept hearing that maybe they’re going to change the rules. So I got up at four in the morning and drove here from Lethbridge to get it submitted,” said Lund, a rancher and a regular performer in the Macleod area.

Lund’s initiative reads: “The government of Alberta shall prohibit by law any and all new coal mining activities, including new approvals and permits, within the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.”

Its origins go back to a town hall with the premier and two members of her cabinet, Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean, and Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz. The three faced about 500 people at the Fort Macleod and District Community Hall.

Billed by the government as a discussion of a provincial initiative on coal industry modernization, the town hall erupted in boos and yelling, with Smith and her ministers often shouted down as they spoke. Arguments also broke out in the crowd between factions.

At the controversy’s centre is a proposal to remine a site abandoned six decades ago called Grassy Mountain, located just north of the Crowsnest Pass community of Blairmore but within Ranchland municipal district.

Opponents of the idea point to potential water contamination from the release of selenium as a major concern. Water security, air pollution and threats to wildlife habitat and migration also make the project untenable, they say.

But proponents and supporters say mining Grassy Mountain will mean long-term jobs and economic development, and that modern mining techniques protect the environment.

Northback Holdings Corporation received limited Grassy Mountain approval in May from the Alberta Energy Regulator for exploratory drilling and temporary water diversion.

The Eastern Slopes is a region that follows the spine of the Rockies through the province for about 700 kilometres northwest along the B.C. border.  Almost 100 km wide at some points, it extends from the Montana border in the province’s southwest corner to the Kakwa and Willmore wilderness areas northwest of Jasper.

Lund said he’s not anti-resource and doesn’t favour one party over others. “This isn’t about political parties. I have no love for any of them,” he said. “It’s just that not every project is a good idea.”

Coal mining near the headwaters of rivers is “just a terrible idea for many reasons. The biggest one is quality and quantity of water.”

Because of the timing of an earlier application that was rejected, Grassy Mountain was allowed to continue applying as an existing project. The newest government policy doesn’t allow open-pit coal mining along the slopes.

At least two underground coal mines for the slopes are proposed, near Nordegg and Grande Cache.

Lund said he’s unconvinced that modern technology or mining underground will protect the environment.

“I have been doing this long enough, for five and a half years, that the trust is gone,” said Lund, accusing the province of “playing so many word games with the types of mines” that it amounts to dishonesty.

Polling shows that most Albertans don’t want coal mines along the Eastern Slopes, he said. And it’s irresponsible putting headwaters in harm’s way or depleting them after years of recurring droughts, he said

“I don’t want to risk our future generations’ water on (the government’s) word.”

Under Alberta law, citizen initiatives can be filed with Elections Alberta by Canadians 18 or older living in the province. The initiative must collect valid, in-person signatures from 10 per cent of the total number of voters in the last general election to force further government action or a referendum.

Based on a final count topping 1.7 million votes, the initiative would need to reach a threshold of 177,732 valid signatures, which it must make happen within 90 days of the petition period kicking off.

But before Albertans start crossing paths with registered, clipboard-armed canvassers, the Chief Electoral Officer has 30 days to decide whether requirements have been met. If the initiative is approved, a seven-day publication period follows before the petition launches.

An initiative can force a legislative or policy proposal to be introduced in the legislative assembly or force Alberta to hold a constitutional referendum.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Minister Brian Jean said: “We’ve already stopped any mountaintop removal. We’ve stopped any open-pit mines in the Eastern Slopes. We’ve taken the steps that we found Albertans wanted us to take.

“We’re going to make sure that the waterways are protected, animals and humans are going to be protected, and (we’ll) make sure that the mines that are opened up under the new framework are done to the expectation of Albertans (for) safety of water, safety of people and safety of animals.”

Saying “we do mining better than anybody on the planet,” Jean, the member for Fort McMurray-Lac la Biche, pointed to meeting the world’s demand for the coal used to make steel. Also, Alberta’s coffers could use a royalty boost from coal to pay for things like new schools, the minister said.

editor