Ranchers 'vindicated' but concerned after court forces government to share coal policy documents
It took four years in court, but a group of Eastern Slope ranchers will finally get access to thousands of pages of documents outlining when and how the province decided to tear up 44 years of coal policy.
"The courts are being stalled up with resistance to release these materials that belong to Albertans," said Laura Laing, a rancher based west of Nanton.
"As hard as they've been fighting for us to not see the rest of the documents – because what hasn't been redacted is fairly damning – I would suggest we have a lot to find out on this file."
The group had already received a series of five packages from the province through FOIP, but more than half of the roughly 1,300 were completely blank.
Those documents were spread between 2021 and 2023.
Many questions remain.
"Like, how did we get to almost opening up the entirety of the Eastern Slopes to industrial open pit coal mining – it would have been the largest development that Alberta has ever seen – without the knowledge of Albertans?" Laing said.
There are some clues – a revision of the 1976 Eastern Slopes coal policy was underway at least as early as October of 2019.
The policy brought in under Peter Lougheed's government prevented all coal mining development along virtually all of the Eastern Slopes from the Crowsnest Pass to Kananaskis Country.
But late on the Friday afternoon before the 2020 May long weekend, the province issued a statement saying it was accepting new coal licence applications.
Following broad public outcry, the Jason Kenney government eventually re-instated the long-standing protection policy, but not before attempting to auction rights as far north as Mist Ridge in Kananaskis and allowing the building of at least 65 kilometres of new exploration roads.
"This feels like a validation of a lot of hard work and a lot of energy by some good people," said Rachel Herbert of Trails End Beef near Nanton.
Current Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean's office issued a statement on Wednesday:
"The decision is under review to determine if an appeal should be filed. We recognize that there is public interest related to coal production in Alberta, which is why the department has released many public documents and information through FOIP requests and other disclosure mechanisms. With the exception of the designated advanced coal projects, the ministerial order stopping coal development and coal exploration in the foothills remains in effect."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
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.
Police move in to clear NYU encampment, U.S. campus arrests grow to 2,200 in pro-Palestinian protests
Police moved in to clear an encampment at New York University on Friday at the request of school officials, a move that follows weeks of pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in nearly 2,200 arrests by police.
Feds giving Toronto more than $104M to host 2026 FIFA World Cup
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
Parents of infant who died in wrong-way crash on Ontario's Hwy. 401 were in same vehicle
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.
Drew Barrymore explains how she accidentally left a list of her romantic partners at Danny DeVito's house
Danny DeVito had the opportunity to know way more about Drew Barrymore than the rest of us.
'Bare-adise' adventure: This nude cruise is due to set sail from Miami in 2025
What do you need to pack for a cruise? When it comes to this upcoming cruise from tour and travel company Bare Necessities, the answer appears to be very little.