Alberta Rockies coal mining protesters turn attention to UCP AGM
Coal mining opponents held a protest outside of the UCP annual general meeting Saturday, hoping to show the government how much support there is for environmental protections in the Rocky Mountains.
The protest comes on the heels of news that two anticipated provincial reports around open-pit coal development have been delayed.
"Coal mining is far too serious for us to be complacent about it," protest organizer Laura Myers said. "We've been taking our Rocky Mountains for granted, and it's time for us to stand up and protect them."
Last year, the UCP canceled decades-old environmental protections that made open-pit coal mines difficult to develop in Alberta. But the ensuing public outcry was intense, prompting a backpedal from the government and a promise to reinstate the protections in the Rockies until proper studies had been conducted.
Energy Minister Sonya Savage has previously promised two reports would take a comprehensive look into public opinion on the matter. One has been delayed twice.
Both are now expected to be delivered to the province at the end of the year.
"It's a hardline 'no' to coal," Piikani First Nation protester Adam North Peigan said. "Open-pit coal mining is going to desecrate our ancestral territory of Treaty 7. It's going to have detrimental harms to our communities today and for our grandchildren."
Many First Nations are worried about the environmental impact to land in the area, and insist the development will poison their water supply.
"The UCP government has to start looking at other ways to sustain the economy through renewal energy," North Peigan added.
Former Alberta Liberal Party leader and protester David Khan said he hopes the provincial reports accurately represent opposition.
"The vast majority of Albertans are against coal mining in the Rockies," Khan told CTV News. "We've dragged (the UCP) kicking and screaming to moratoriums and pauses and some kind of consultation."
The protest was hoping to draw the attention of the premier and MLAs heading into the AGM.
"This is a peaceful rally," Khan said. "We're on provincial land, away from the casino. We are making our voices heard to the delegates and attending, but in a respectful way."
Savage was unavailable for an interview.
A press secretary said the minister will be making sure the reports are detailed and reviewed in a thorough manner.
Both documents are expected to be massive, they added, something that will likely delay their public release.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Gangs netting up to US$3 trillion a year as Southeast Asia human trafficking becomes a global crisis, Interpol says
Human trafficking-fuelled fraud is exploding in Southeast Asia with organized crime rings raking in close to US$3 trillion in illicit revenue annually, the head of Interpol has said in comments that reveal the huge profits being earned by cartels.