Musician Corb Lund wants strong stance against coal mines in Alberta election
As Albertans begin what could be a bitter and divisive provincial election campaign, one of the province's most popular musicians wants to remind them of an issue that brought everyone together a couple years ago.
“All candidates should be unanimous in saying they'll enact strong legislation to protect anywhere in the Rockies from any coal mines, period,” said Corb Lund.
“That's what Albertans want.”
Lund was one of the most prominent opponents of coal mining after the United Conservative Party government revoked the policy that protected the eastern slopes.
Within a year after that policy was revoked in spring 2020, thousands of hectares were staked for coal exploration up and down the province's western boundary - a playground for thousands and the water source for millions. But opening those summits and foothills to development provoked a severe and widespread backlash that ran from urban environmentalists to small-town mayors to country music stars.
Lund, a sixth-generation Albertan who lives downstream from one of the proposed mine sites, was one of them.
He and fellow Alberta country singers Paul Brandt, Brett Kissel and Terry Clark released a re-recorded version of one of his songs. Lund also put out a series of social media posts opposing the developments.
Now, he's doing it again in hopes that guarantees of protection for the eastern slopes becomes an election issue before Albertans head to the polls May 29.
“There should be full bipartisan agreement on this,” said Lund, who describes himself as determinedly non-partisan.
The government, which eventually convened a committee to hear from Albertans, ultimately backed off after that group reported wide and near-universal opposition. The protections that had been retracted were restored by ministerial order.
Since then, Lund said the most high profile of the coal projects have faded away.
But he said coal companies are still looking to develop in Alberta and warns provincial protections exist in a ministerial order, which can be pulled at any time.
“The thing that kept the mining at bay is only policy, not legislation. Legislation is much more robust - people can't just change it at the stroke of a pen,” he said.
“We need legislation.”
The United Conservatives have said there are no plans to retract the ministerial order, although they haven't promised protective legislation. The Opposition New Democrats tabled such legislation during the last sitting, which was twice blocked from going ahead by the government.
Although it has been a couple years since “Mountains Not Mines” lawn signs sprouted like mushrooms across the province, Lund thinks people haven't forgotten their passion on the issue.
“I think people still feel strongly,” he said. “But they've got hockey practice and kids and jobs and they're not thinking about it 24-7.
“But the coal companies are thinking about it 24-7. It's still very much a threat.”
Election times are times to air out difficult issues, said Lund.
“This is a great time to be reminded of (coal),” he said. “It's election time.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.